Reports say that the wife of a police employee who killed four colleagues at the Paris force’s HQ says he had a psychotic episode, was incoherent and heard voices the night before.
Police are still searching for a motive behind the attack, where 4 people were killed, and the attacker identified as Mickaël Harpon, was shot dead at the scene. Harpon’s wife has been taken into custody, although the Paris prosecutor’s office says she has not been charged. Police union officials have suggested that Harpon may have been involved in a workplace dispute.
His wife has apparently told police that he had a “disagreement with his bosses and felt his work was unappreciated.” Harpon was also described as “70% deaf.”
Many emergency services attended the scene, near Paris Police headquarters.
What went on?
As stated in a previous article, reports have circulated that a knife wielding man has killed four officers outside central police headquarters in Paris.
The attacker was supposedly a member of staff at the building, and was later shot dead by police. The area in the île de la Cité, in the centre of Paris, has been sealed off. Reports state that “the attack happened at about 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT) in the courtyard of the police building.”
The attack follows a rare nationwide police strike on Wednesday, which saw thousands of officers demonstrating in Paris over working hours, shortages in resources and controversial pension reforms. Police unions say there have been more than 50 suicides by police officers since the start of the year.
They blame the rising numbers on difficult working conditions and increasing violence towards police.
