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Deadly Hotel Attack in Marseille City Center
French police shot and killed a 35-year-old man after he went on a stabbing rampage at a hotel in central Marseille, wounding five people before being neutralized on a busy shopping street. The incident occurred this afternoon when the assailant, identified as a Tunisian national legally residing in France, returned to the hotel after being evicted for non-payment of bills.
Chronology of the Attack
According to the French Public Prosecutor's Office, the man returned to the hotel armed with two knives and a metal crowbar. He first went upstairs to his former room and stabbed his former roommate in the side. He then proceeded downstairs where he attacked the hotel manager and his son with the knives.
The assailant then entered a nearby snack bar where he wounded two more victims before being chased away by customers. On the adjacent busy shopping street, he began swinging the metal crowbar indiscriminately at pedestrians, creating panic among shoppers and tourists.
Police Intervention and Fatal Shooting
Police units that had been alerted to the situation arrived on scene promptly. Eyewitnesses reported that the man attempted to attack officers with the crowbar, prompting them to open fire. Despite resuscitation attempts at the scene, the attacker died from his injuries.
Victim Conditions and Investigation
All five wounded victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The former roommate, who suffered the most serious injuries, was initially in critical condition but has since stabilized. The other victims include the hotel manager, his son, and two snack bar customers.
French authorities revealed that the perpetrator was known to police for previous violent incidents and was described as "unstable" in official records. Reports indicate he had previously been expelled from a mosque for aggressive behavior, though he was not receiving psychiatric care at the time of the attack.
Political Reactions and Immigration Debate
The incident has sparked renewed debate about immigration and security policies in France, with several politicians seizing on the attacker's Tunisian nationality to call for stricter immigration controls. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin is traveling to Marseille to meet with local police officials tonight.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation to determine the motive behind the attack, including whether it constituted a terrorist act. No terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the incident at this time.
