Three women were lightly injured by a bladed weapon in the Paris metro on December 26, 2025, by a Malian national under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). The attacks occurred on line 3 at République, Arts et Métiers, and Opéra stations between 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. The 25-year-old attacker, previously convicted of sexual assault, was arrested at 6:55 p.m. in Sarcelles, Val-d'Oise.
On December 26, 2025, in the late afternoon, a man armed with a knife attacked three women on Paris metro line 3. The incidents occurred between 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. at République, Arts et Métiers, and then Opéra stations, in the heart of the capital. The victims suffered superficial light injuries with no life-threatening prognosis: one to the leg, another to the back, and the third presented herself at the hospital. An AFP journalist observed at République station a shocked woman being attended to by emergency services.
The alleged perpetrator, a 25-year-old Malian born in 2000, was in an irregular situation and under OQTF. Already known to police for property offenses and under the influence of drugs, he had been imprisoned in January 2024 for aggravated theft and sexual assault before being released in July 2025 due to his administrative status. Placed in an administrative detention center (CRA), he could not be deported within the 90-day legal period due to the lack of a consular laissez-passer without a valid identity document, and was assigned to residence under a search warrant.
Identified via surveillance footage, the individual, described as slim, of African appearance and wearing a khaki coat, fled via line 8 before being located by phone geolocation. He was arrested at 6:55 p.m. in Sarcelles by the regional transport security services (SRT) and Val-d'Oise police. An investigation into attempted voluntary homicide and armed voluntary violence has been opened. The terrorism lead is not favored; the suspect is described as 'unbalanced'.
Paris police prefect Patrice Faure praised 'the reactivity and mobilization of his services'. Île-de-France region president Valérie Pécresse sent her 'wishes for a speedy recovery' to the victims. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez regretted the failed deportation and congratulated the investigators, calling for 'maximum vigilance' in transport ahead of New Year's due to the high terrorist threat. Security teams were deployed as reinforcements on line 3, and RATP's victim assistance unit was activated.
