Machete-Wielding Man Arrested In Central Paris As France Braces For Copycat Attacks

France is in a continued state of ‘high security alert’ after a series of Islamist terror attacks rocked the country leaving multiple innocent bystanders dead and wounded. Other European countries too have increased security given the latest mass shooting by jihadists roving the streets and randomly killing in a Jewish neighborhood of Vienna Monday night. 

And now on Tuesday French police descended on a hotel to apprehend a man who had been seen walking the streets of central Paris wielding a machete. Local reports said the man barricaded himself inside the building.

Multiple witnesses had called police when at around 11:30am they saw “a man armed with a machete in the corridors of the Metro at Père-Lachaise station,” according to a Paris police spokesman.

#France | Armed police have rushed to a street in #Paris following reports a man with a machete has barricaded himself inside a building. https://t.co/WkmV85tLix pic.twitter.com/UZyKZoKlKy

— Atlantide (@Atlantide4world) November 3, 2020

The incident was enough for police to shut down the entire street after the man was seen entering a hotel. The hotel was surrounded with snipers positioned on surrounding buildings.

It’s unclear at this point if he attempted to attack or swing it at anyone, but it understandably caused momentary panic in the area, given last month’s beheadings. So far there’s been no reports of victims, while police said the investigation is ongoing.

🔴 Intervention des forces de l’ordre rue du chemin vert à #Paris. La rue est bouclée, des agents sont en position sur un toit qui fait face à un immeuble de la rue.
Via @actufrparis pic.twitter.com/qw2G4d7Hrr

— Marie-Amélie Marchal (@marieam_marchal) November 3, 2020

One eyewitness was cited in a UK media report as saying:

“There’s a guy walking through the halls of Père Lachaise with a machete. I watched my life pass, not knowing if I should stay in the metro or run back.“

No doubt police are taking no chances and it’s likely that anyone seen brandishing a weapon in public, especially something like a long blade or sword, will trigger a full emergency SWAT response. 

On Monday night four people were killed in Vienna when terrorists began random killings in the center of the city. One gunman was still at large hours after the terror attack and was being pursued by police and military.

🇫🇷: Suspect arrested in #Paris for attempting to carry out a #machete #attack on Nov. 03, 2020.

– No casualties reported;
– With the recent #ViennaAttack , #NiceAttack & #ParisAttacks, this was a probable #CopyCat attempt. #terrorism @IntellFusion https://t.co/YMziVao7q6 pic.twitter.com/QK8ATOs3zH

— Intelligence Fusion – Europe (@IF_Europe) November 3, 2020

Some reports are suggesting the man apprehended in central Paris was prepared to possibly carry out a ‘copycat’ attack.