Axe attack on suburban train near Paris leaves 4 injured

Four teenagers were wounded, two of them seriously, during a violent altercation involving an axe on a suburban train outside Paris on Monday morning, police sources said. The main suspect, a 16-year-old, was arrested later that day at his home.

Serious injuries reported

The victims, aged 16 and 17, were on their way to secondary school when the incident occurred at around 8:00 am (0700 GMT) on the RER suburban express train at the Ozoir-la-Ferriere station, southeast of Paris. One victim suffered the severing of a hand, and another had a severe head injury.

Two other teens sustained lighter injuries, according to a police source.

Weapons used in the altercation

Police sources revealed that the fight involved multiple weapons, including an axe, a knife, a samurai sword, and baseball bats. The exact cause of the confrontation is still under investigation. All injured individuals were transported to a nearby hospital, and none were reported to be in life-threatening condition.

Police have opened an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the incident. The 16-year-old main suspect was arrested at his residence and taken into custody. Authorities also found and confiscated an axe during the search, according to a police source.

Train station, public safety concerns

Ozoir-la-Ferriere station services suburban routes, connecting Paris to surrounding areas. The incident has raised safety concerns among commuters using these transit lines.

Despite the incident, the RER E line’s operations were not impacted as the train was already stationed when the altercation unfolded. The state rail operator, SNCF, confirmed that train service continued without disruption.