Six people hurt in early-morning knife attack at Paris Gare du Nord

[Update January 11 at 14:15 - The attacker was stopped by police and border police finishing their shifts and heading home. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has described him as being 'extremely violent' and using an 'extremely dangerous weapon' which he had created himself.]

Six people were injured at around 06:42 this morning (January 11) at Gare du Nord in Paris as the result of a knife attack, police report.

The victims were treated by emergency services at the scene. One suffered a serious wound to the shoulder while the other five sustained mild injuries.

One of the victims is a border police officer.

It is not yet known what type of knife the attacker used, nor what motivated him to carry out the attack. The police quickly opened fire to stop him at 06:43, shooting three times. He is in a life-threatening condition.

The attacker was not carrying identity papers and so has not yet been named.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has thanked the authorities for their “effective and courageous” response to the incident. He and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo have visited the station this morning.

Paris’ public prosecution service has opened an investigation into the incident, which is not currently being viewed as a terrorist attack, although anti-terrorist services are paying close attention to the case.

Rail traffic disrupted

The attack caused TER, TGV, RER and Francilien train services departing from and arriving in the station to be disrupted, the SNCF stated.

An area of the station has also been cordoned off by the police.