PARIS — French police arrested a man suspected of stabbing three women at separate stations along Paris Metro Line 3 on Thursday afternoon, prosecutors said, in a spate of attacks that briefly rattled one of the capital’s busiest commuter corridors.
The incidents unfolded between 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. local time (3:15-3:45 p.m. GMT), with the victims attacked at République and Arts et Métiers — both near the Marais district — and at Opéra, according to RATP, the Paris transit authority.
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Emergency responders treated the three women “quickly,” RATP said, without immediately providing details about the severity of their injuries. Police units were dispatched to each scene, and additional security teams were deployed to reinforce safety on Line 3 following the attacks, the authority added.
Prosecutors said the suspect was tracked and detained later in the afternoon in Val d’Oise after police activated the geolocation of his mobile phone. Authorities did not immediately release the man’s identity or provide a possible motive.
The clustered timeline and locations — spanning central Paris stations within roughly 30 minutes — are likely to intensify scrutiny of security on public transportation, a recurring pressure point for officials during periods of heightened alert. Line 3 crosses dense residential and commercial neighborhoods, funnelling commuters and tourists through key interchanges in the heart of the city.
Last week, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez urged senior officials to maintain “maximum vigilance” amid what he described as a “very high level of the terrorist threat” and “the risk of public disorder.” He called for reinforced, visible and deterrent security measures nationwide — guidance that underscores the continued sensitivity around public spaces, including metro systems.
RATP said it was coordinating closely with police and emergency services following Thursday’s stabbings. The authority did not immediately detail any service disruptions on Line 3 as officers secured the three stations and gathered evidence.
Prosecutors offered no immediate information about whether the victims knew the assailant. Investigators were expected to review station surveillance footage and witness accounts to reconstruct the suspect’s movements and determine whether any additional incidents are linked.
Public transport security in Paris typically relies on a mix of uniformed and plainclothes patrols, station staff and camera networks. After high-profile incidents, authorities often surge personnel at hubs to reassure passengers and deter copycat attacks.
As of Thursday evening, officials had not released further updates on the women’s conditions or on pending charges. The investigation remained active, with police maintaining a visible presence on Line 3 while services continued under tightened security.
Authorities urged commuters to follow official guidance and allow extra time for travel as the inquiry unfolds. Anyone with information relevant to the incidents was encouraged to contact police.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
