Syrian Man Shot by French Police After Painting Swastikas at Train Station “`

Police fired their weapons after the man displayed a firearm, later determined to be a replica.

Parisian authorities reported that police shot and critically injured a man at Austerlitz train station on Monday. The man had been caught spray-painting swastikas before brandishing what appeared to be a gun at responding officers. A bystander was also injured.

According to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, police responded to reports of vandalism. When confronted, the man drew a weapon from his jacket, prompting officers to fire multiple shots, striking him in the abdomen. Video surveillance supported this account.

The suspect, a 49-year-old Syrian national, was hospitalized in critical condition and subsequently declared brain dead, according to Le Parisien. Limited details about the suspect have been released.

A ricocheting bullet injured a taxi driver in the foot; his injuries are considered stable.

The weapon was later identified as a fake, a fact unknown to officers at the time of the shooting. Two investigations are underway: one focusing on the officers’ actions, and the other examining the suspect’s conduct.

Austerlitz station was temporarily closed, and train service disrupted, following the incident while police and counter-terrorism officials secured the area.

France remains under a high terrorism alert. National antiterrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen reported in December that over 600 suspected terror plot investigations were launched in 2024—double the 2023 figure—resulting in the prevention of nine planned attacks.

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