A convicted Islamic terrorist who served 12 years for attacking Belgian police officers walked free from prison in December 2024, only to launch another knife assault on French law enforcement at one of Paris’s most sacred national monuments just two months later—raising urgent questions about Europe’s early release policies for radicalized prisoners.
Story Snapshot
- Brahim Bahrir, a 48-year-old French national with a 2013 terrorism conviction, attacked police officers with a knife during a ceremonial flame-relighting at the Arc de Triomphe on February 13, 2026
- The attacker was shot dead by responding officers after attempting to stab a gendarme, whose life was saved when the blade struck his coat collar instead of his body
- Bahrir had been released early from a 17-year sentence and was under daily police supervision with movement restrictions at the time of the attack
- French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the incident a thwarted terrorist attack and praised officers for preventing casualties among bystanders and law enforcement
- France’s counterterrorism prosecutor identified systemic failures in monitoring radicalized former prisoners following the attack
The Attack at France’s Sacred Shrine
The assault unfolded shortly after 6 PM during the nightly rekindling of the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe. Bahrir approached police officers providing security for the ceremony—a solemn republican tradition honoring France’s war dead—armed with both a knife and scissors. When he lunged at one gendarme, a second officer immediately fired, striking the attacker twice in the chest. Bahrir was transported to Georges-Pompidou Hospital where he died from his injuries. The Arc de Triomphe was closed to visitors following the incident as investigators from France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office descended on the scene.
A Terrorist’s Journey From Belgium to Paris
Bahrir’s path to radicalization began in 2012 after losing his railway job at SNCF and separating from his wife. In Molenbeek, Belgium—a municipality that became notorious as a hub for extremist activity—he witnessed clashes between Sharia4Belgium activists and police following the arrest of a woman for wearing a full-face veil. These events catalyzed his transformation. On June 8, 2012, he attacked three police officers at the Beekkant metro station in Molenbeek, injuring two. Belgian courts sentenced him to 17 years for attempted premeditated murder in connection with a terrorist organization, illegal weapons possession, and armed resistance.
The Monitoring System That Failed
After his transfer to French custody in 2015 and early release in December 2024, Bahrir was placed under judicial monitoring with substantial restrictions. He faced daily police check-ins and an individual administrative control measure limiting his movements. Yet these safeguards proved inadequate. The counterterrorism prosecutor’s assessment was blunt: the incident highlighted the “difficulty in monitoring radicalized former prisoners.” This failure raises fundamental questions about the wisdom of early release for terrorism convicts. Bahrir reportedly sought death by police gunfire, suggesting his supervision amounted to little more than paperwork while he maintained his violent intentions.
The Case Against Lenient Sentencing
The facts speak with uncomfortable clarity. A man convicted of attempting to murder police officers in the name of radical Islam served only 12 of his 17-year sentence before authorities deemed him suitable for supervised release. Within two months, he attacked again at a location deliberately chosen for its national significance. The officer whose collar deflected Bahrir’s blade survived by millimeters, not by the effectiveness of monitoring protocols. Common sense suggests that individuals who demonstrate violent religious extremism require either complete sentences or incapacitation—not trust-based supervision systems that clearly cannot guarantee public safety.
Macron’s Response and Political Reality
President Macron framed the outcome as a security success, congratulating officers for their swift response and characterizing the attack as “thwarted.” This political spin cannot obscure the underlying reality: a known terrorist under supposedly rigorous supervision successfully reached a high-profile target and came within inches of killing a law enforcement officer. The quick police response deserves genuine praise, but the system that allowed Bahrir to reach the Arc de Triomphe armed with weapons represents a preventable failure. The investigation into his “terrorist enterprise” ties before his death may reveal whether he acted alone or maintained connections to extremist networks during his supervised release.
It's only going to get worse, France.
You brought this upon yourselves.
**
WATCH: Islamic Terrorist Attacks French Police Officers With a Knife at Paris' Arc de Triomphe, Gets Shot Dead https://t.co/1R8dMpeX9O— Chuck Nellis The Phoenix (@ChuckThePhoenix) February 14, 2026
The Broader Implications for European Security
This incident crystallizes the challenge facing Western nations: balancing rehabilitation ideals against terrorism realities. Bahrir’s 2012 attack in Molenbeek occurred in a municipality that exemplified Europe’s struggle with radicalization within its borders. His ability to maintain extremist motivations through years of imprisonment, transfer between countries, and supervised release suggests that some individuals cannot be reformed through conventional criminal justice approaches. The cross-border coordination between French and Belgian authorities, while functional, could not prevent a second attack by the same individual. Tourism at the Arc de Triomphe will resume, but the questions about early release policies and monitoring effectiveness will persist.
Sources:
Paris police fire on man who tried to stab officer at Arc de Triomphe – France 24
