Europe13 February, 20263 min read
Paris Police Shoot Dead ISIS-Linked Knifeman Brahim Bahrir at Arc de Triomphe
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Police shot and killed a knife-wielding man at the Arc de Triomphe Man attacked a gendarme with a knife near the Arc de Triomphe
8 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Azerbaijan Bars Hijab in Schools, Sparking Protests in Baku and Arrests →
Arc de Triomphe attack
On the evening of 13 February 2026, a 48‑year‑old man identified as Brahim Bahrir carried out a knife attack beneath the Arc de Triomphe during the ceremony to rekindle the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He was shot by security forces, taken to hospital and later died of his wounds. France 24 reports the attacker was shot after allegedly threatening officers during the ceremony.
“A knife-wielding man was shot dead by police under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Friday after allegedly threatening officers during the ceremony to rekindle the flame at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, officials said.”
GB News says he charged at gendarmes with a knife during the Rekindling of the Flame ceremony and was shot at least three times before being taken to Georges‑Pompidou hospital. The Mirror and the‑sun likewise report he was shot and later died.
Different accounts of attack
Eyewitness and police accounts differ on the immediate details. France 24 says an honour guard officer was slightly wounded before "another officer opened fire" and that the attacker was carrying scissors as well as a knife. The Mirror describes Bahrir brandishing a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors at bandsmen and quotes that "one musician fired a service revolver" wounding him.
GB News and the-sun report he charged at gendarmes or police and was shot by officers. These accounts contradict each other on who fired and the sequence of events, with different outlets attributing the shooting to an officer who opened fire, a musician's service revolver, or police/gendarmes responding after a charge. Authorities also report he had phoned a local police station earlier that day with threats, prompting searches and a trace of his phone near the monument, according to multiple outlets.
Reports on Bahrir's case
Outlets report Bahrir's background and recent supervision differently across sources. Multiple reports state he had a prior conviction in Belgium for stabbing police and was sentenced over an attack in 2012. France 24 and The Mirror say he was sentenced to 17 years for attempted murder linked to a terrorist enterprise.
“Bahrir had previously been sentenced in Belgium to 17 years for attempted murder, terror and related charges after attacking three officers in 2012.”
These accounts conflict on how long he served and when he was released. The Mirror says he 'had been transferred to France and released about seven weeks earlier', the-sun says 'only weeks after his release', while GB News reports he was released in December after serving 12 years on terrorism charges and was 'said to have been subject to a MICAS security measure.'
Attack and investigation in France
Authorities have opened an inquiry and officials described the case to anti‑terror teams. France 24 reports the national anti‑terrorism prosecutor's office said the attacker was shot and later died.
GB News reports the National Anti‑Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation and says President Emmanuel Macron praised security forces and labelled the incident a 'religiously motivated' terrorist attack. The Mirror and France 24 record that no other fatalities were reported and that at least one member of the guard was wounded.
Media coverage differences
Tabloid and 'other' outlets (The Mirror, the‑sun) emphasize the attacker’s recent release and graphic details such as a kitchen knife, scissors and shouted slogans. Mainstream outlets (France 24, GB News) stress official characterizations, investigations and security measures, including watchlist and MICAS mentions. The Telegraph's snippet in the provided material does not include the article text, and the London Evening Standard's supplied summary is unrelated to the attack.
“Shortly after 6pm he brandished a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors at three bandsmen preparing the daily ceremony, shouting a slogan about avenging 'our women and children'; one musician fired a service revolver, wounding Bahrir, who later died in hospital.”
Both examples illustrate missing or off‑topic reporting in the provided set. Readers should note these editorial choices and the factual discrepancies in sentence length, release timing and exactly who fired the shots.
