Knife Attack Near Cannes Police Station: Suspect Arrested

A knife attack took place on Saturday, March 15, near the central police station in Cannes. A 21-year-old man of Moroccan nationality, who had been subject to a deportation order (OQTF) since November 2024, threatened a police unit before being subdued with a taser and taken into custody. No officers were injured, but they were deeply shaken.

Incident Details

Around 11 a.m., the suspect approached the back of the police station, initially behaving calmly before brandishing a knife at the officers. In response to the threat, the officers started their vehicle to call for reinforcements. The assailant then lunged at them, prompting one of the officers to use a taser to subdue him. Once handcuffed and placed in a holding cell, he continued shouting “Allah Akbar” and claimed to be “possessed,” while also mentioning suicidal thoughts and psychological issues.

A Suspect Already Known to Authorities

The individual had already been arrested earlier in the week for damaging a municipal police vehicle. He had been summoned by the judiciary but was not considered dangerous. This latest attack has sparked outrage, particularly from Cannes Mayor David Lisnard, who criticized what he sees as judicial leniency.

Reactions and Ongoing Investigation

The Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes praised the “professionalism and restraint” of the responding officers. Meanwhile, MP Éric Ciotti expressed his “full support” for the police.

The investigation, led by the judicial police, aims to determine the assailant’s exact motives. This attack comes nearly four years after a similar assault outside the Cannes police station in 2021.