Knife-wielding man arrested in Paris train station, tensions high ahead of election

April 22 (UPI) — Panicked commuters at Gare du Nord train station in Paris took off running Saturday after a knife-wielding man was spotted walking through the French transportation hub.

The man was arrested by police but not before panic spread through the local area via social media. No one was injured in the incident.

‘It was terrifying,” commuter Paul McDermott said. “Suddenly people saw a stampede in the main Gare du Nord area below. Then there was a stampede in the Eurostar hall. Nobody knew why. People dropped their bags and ran. Police said to hit the deck.”

Tensions are high in Paris, one day before the French presidential vote and two days after a gunman opened fire at the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, killing a police officer.

Also Saturday, more than 100 wives and partners of police officers took part in the Angry Police Wives protest against attacks on police. Separately, police were pelted with objects after confronting marchers in a trade union demonstration in eastern Paris.

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