Panic erupted on Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026, near the Louvre Museum in Paris. Shortly before 10:00 AM, a gunshot was heard on Rue des Petits-Champs in the 2nd arrondissement, mere hundreds of meters from one of Paris’s most frequented sites.
Man Seizes Officer’s Weapon, Fires Shot
According to the Paris public prosecutor’s office, a man, who was being sought by law enforcement,
seized a police officer’s service weapon and fired a shot. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The incident was confirmed by TF1info, citing information from Actu17. The prosecutor’s office stated, “The apprehended man was taken to the hospital to ensure his health and the compatibility of his psychiatric state with police custody.” This event occurred just days after an individual attempted to attack a gendarme near the Arc de Triomphe.
Suspect Identified and Apprehended
The individual, who was identified as being born in October 2000 in Val-de-Marne, had been reported to law enforcement earlier. Police officers were initially called to the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) on Rue des Grands Moulins in the 13th arrondissement due to vandalism. An unhoused person was suspected of being trapped inside and breaking a window to escape.
Officers from the Railway Network Brigade (BRF) on patrol on Rue des Petits-Champs identified a man matching the description, who also had blood on his hands. It was during the apprehension that the individual reportedly tried to grab the officer’s weapon, firing the shot.
Investigation Underway
The public prosecutor’s office reported that “samples were taken from the man’s hands to search for traces of gunpowder, and the service weapon was seized.” Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
This incident adds to a series of recent events involving law enforcement in Paris, highlighting ongoing security concerns in the capital.
