Man Arrested After Stabbing Three Women on Paris Metro Line 3

French police have arrested a man suspected of stabbing three women on Line 3 of the Paris Metro, an incident that caused panic among commuters during the capital’s crowded end-of-year festive period.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the attacks took place at around 4:00 p.m. on Friday at three separate metro stations: République, Arts-et-Métiers, and Opéra. Investigators believe the suspect attacked one woman at each station before fleeing the scene, using the same metro line to move between locations.

The rapid response by law enforcement was aided by surveillance camera footage from the metro network. Police were able to identify the suspect through video evidence and subsequently track the geolocation of his mobile phone. This led officers to his location in the Val d’Oise region, north of Paris, where he was arrested later in the afternoon.

Initially, authorities were unable to confirm the extent of the victims’ injuries. However, French daily Le Parisien, citing police sources, reported that all three women sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

The attacks occurred along Line 3, which connects the eastern suburb of Bagnolet with Levallois-Perret in the northwest of Paris. The timing and location of the incidents heightened public concern, as the metro was particularly busy due to holiday shopping and seasonal celebrations taking place across the city.

Police sources told Le Parisien that the suspect is of Malian origin and was born in 2000. He was reportedly arrested at his home following the police operation. Authorities have stated that a terrorist motive has been ruled out. Instead, investigators believe the acts were carried out by a disturbed individual or someone considered psychologically fragile.

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that further information will be released as inquiries continue. Meanwhile, police have reassured the public that there is no ongoing threat to passenger safety and that security measures across the metro network remain in place.