Paris attacker ‘shouting Allahu akbar’ shot dead by police after stabbing victims in street

Police have shot a man who launched a knife attack in Paris dead after he killed at least one person and injured four others.

A witness told The Independent the assailant was shouting “Allahu akbar” and trying to get into restaurants as diners barricaded the doors. “First one we thought it was two guys fighting,” said Fiona, who was having dinner in Kintaro restaurant . . . People that were queuing outside ran into the restaurant screaming, so everyone panicked and threw themselves on the floor.” 

Fiona said the same man came back with the knife minutes later and was “screaming Allahu akbar”. 

“Some guys including my friend blocked the door in case he would try to enter, When we ran away they were still looking for the guy and one woman was laying down on the floor her neck was bleeding.”

The attack took place on Rue Saint-Augustin, which is famed for its many restaurants, and videos posted on social media showed people running from the scene.

The multiple stabbing was launched in the Opera district of the French capital on Saturday evening.

A police spokesperson said five people were stabbed in the Second Arrondissement, adding: “One victim has died, two are seriously wounded and two are injured slightly. The attacker is dead.”

Gerard Collomb, the French interior minister, praised the “sang froid and quick reaction of police officers who neutralised the assailant”