Arrest made as man killed at Qatari embassy in France

Prosecutors say a murder investigation has been opened

French policemen take position outside the Qatar Embassy in Paris on May 23. 2022, following an incident during which a security guard died (AFP via Getty Images)

A person has been arrested on suspicion of killing a guard at the Qatari embassy in Paris, police have said.

The newspaper Le Parisien reported the death on Monday, citing police sources. The death was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office, which has launched an criminal investigation in the wake of the killing, saying it is unclear if a weapon was used in the attack.

“I can confirm that an investigation was opened today on the count of murder,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

“The circumstances of the death of the guard are yet to be determined precisely,” it added.

The incident, which took place at around 6.30am on Monday morning, does not seem to have been terrorism-related, a police source told Reuters.

Le Parisien added that the assailant is known to have a history of mental health issues.

In a tweet, the Qatari embassy in Paris called the attack “a heinous and unjustified crime”.

“We await the results of the investigations and call for the privacy of the deceased’s family to be respected. The embassy expresses feelings of sadness and sorrow over this crime and extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” it added.

Gerald Darmanin, the French interior minister, also said his thoughts were with the victim’s family.

“I assured the [Qatari] ambassador of my support and of our determination to guarantee the security of diplomatic premises in France,” he said.