The French Interior Minister at the site of the attack
People rushed to Strasbourg Saint-Denis, where the massacre took place, to protest the killings. Tension escalated after the interior minister arrived at the scene.
The police used tear gas to disperse people. The French Kurdish Democratic Council (CDK-F) is expected to make a press release in front of the center around 6:30 p.m.
The CDK-F has called for a demonstration in Place de la République tomorrow, Saturday. Many left-wing groups and associations said they would join the action on their social media accounts.
Tension is still high in the neighborhood.
Prime Minister: an odious offensive
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called the attack a “heinous attack” and offered her condolences to the families of the victims.
Darmanin: Protection of the Kurdish center
After the attack on the Kurdish Cultural Center in Paris, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also came to the scene.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who came to rue d’Enghien where the attack took place, said: “Three people lost their lives, two in front of the Cultural Center and one inside a restaurant”.
The minister added that a person is still fighting for his life.
Minister Darmanin said that the Kurdish association will now be placed under “24-hour protection”, and similarly, the “Turkish diplomatic representation” will also be protected.
The interior minister said he “did not know the motives” of the person arrested and said he “obviously acted alone”.
The Paris prosecutor’s office announced that an investigation had been opened in the context of “assassination, attempted assassination, intentional armed violence and violation of the laws on the possession of weapons”.
Minister of Justice: A Brutal Attack
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti condemned the attack, calling it a “brutal attack” on his Twitter account, and offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
Mélenchon: Enough!
Many politicians reacted to the attack. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the leftist party “La France Insoummise”, said: “We are sad and angry at the terrorist attack targeting the Kurdish Cultural Center Ahmet Kaya in Paris”.
Melenchon added: “Exactly 10 years ago, three Kurdish female politicians were murdered in the center of Paris. Enough!” He urged the authorities “to protect our Kurdish friends”.
Olivier Faure, of the Socialist Party, demanded that “the legitimization of racism be abandoned”.
Hidalgo: Kurds must live in safety
The mayor of the Metropolis of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, declared: “The Kurdish community and all the people of Paris were the target of these assassinations perpetrated by a militant of the extreme right. Wherever the Kurds live, they must be able to live in peace and in a safe environment. Paris accompanies them more than ever in these dark hours.