A drunk man was killed by French police outside Paris on Sunday after threatening officers and shouting « Allahu akbar. » The phrase is often associated with Islamist attacks. Police sources told AFP the man was holding a fake gun and was highly intoxicated.
Around 6:00 am, police responded to an incident in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, a suburb southeast of Paris. The man had been banging on a door and was reportedly brandishing a handgun when he confronted officers.
During the confrontation, the man pointed the gun at the police while shouting « Allahu akbar, » a Muslim expression meaning « God is greatest. » The officer then drew his weapon and shot the man, who later died despite emergency services’ efforts.
The officer fired three shots, with one hitting the man. The entire incident was recorded on the officer’s body camera. The man, aged 30, had previously been involved in a terrorism-related case in 2019.
The investigation into the shooting has been handed over to the IGPN, the police’s internal affairs department. The officer who fired the shot tested negative for drugs and alcohol, and standard procedures are being followed.
