Game players use unlikely weapon to halt knife-wielding attacker in Paris

The Associated Press

PARIS — They only went out to play a game of petanque by a Parisian canal. But by the end of the evening, the three friends had neutralized a knife-wielding attacker who had stabbed seven people. The friends used an unlikely weapon: the game’s clanking — and hefty — metal balls.

Lobbing dozens of the balls at the attacker and whacking him on the head with a wooden plank, they managed to bring to an end the horror that befell the 19th district on Sunday night. The attacker is in custody, and police are trying to piece together what happened and what were his motives.

Paris police said Monday four of the victims are in serious condition, including one in a life-threatening condition.

Without the bravery of Boudjema Hamani, Reda Smain and their friend, it could have been a lot worse. The area was full of revelers from a popular cinema complex, tourists and families. Two British tourists were among those injured in the 11 p.m. attack.

The three friends chased the attacker, who officials believe is Afghan, down the street and showered him with their steel spheres, which can weigh about 2 pounds. Some 30 were thrown at the attacker as he was trying to stab people with a 15-inch kitchen knife. At least one struck his head.

Mr. Hamani, who helped disarm and arrest the man, initially thought it was a normal commotion, perhaps a brawl, nothing especially out of the ordinary.

“But some young girls and young boys ran toward us, telling us ‘careful, careful, he has a knife,’” Mr. Hamani told The Associated Press.

The attacker lost his balance and Mr. Smain hit him on the head with a wooden plank.

Mr. Smain then managed to wrest the knife away from the attacker, as his friends were able to “block him on the ground,” until plainclothes police arrived.

The Parisian petanque players were lauded for their bravery as French authorities opened an investigation into the attack.