French police shot and killed a man outside Paris on Sunday morning after he allegedly threatened officers while shouting “Allahu akbar,” a phrase often associated with Islamist attackers,
Police sources confirmed to AFP, that the incident occurred in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, a southeastern suburb of Paris, around 6:00 am (0500 GMT).
Police were responding to reports of a man banging on a door and brandishing what appeared to be a gun, sources revealed.
According to preliminary investigations, the weapon was later identified as a dummy gun. A source close to the case stated that the man, aged 30, was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident.
As police confronted him, the man reportedly pointed the imitation firearm at the officers and shouted “Allahu akbar,” which translates to “God is greatest.”
In response, one officer discharged his weapon three times, hitting the man once. Despite emergency medical intervention, the man succumbed to his injuries.
Body camera footage captured the entire event, according to police sources. Investigations revealed that the man had a prior record, including a 2019 case of “apology for terrorism.”
The incident has been referred to the IGPN, the police’s internal affairs department, as part of standard protocol following police shootings. Initial reports confirmed the officer involved tested negative for drugs and alcohol.