A Senegalese national has been arrested in France on suspicion of attempted homicide after stabbing the manager of a bar in the throat; the manager had asked him to leave the establishment.
The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 5 p.m. at the Aux Deux Gares brasserie bar in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne.
An eyewitness told Le Parisien newspaper how an argument had broken out between the accused, who was visibly drunk, and the bar manager, who had asked him to leave.
“At the entrance to the bar, I realized that there was a fight between the boss and a customer. It was obvious that (the accused) was not sober, but I had the impression that they knew each other. I heard the manager shouting: ‘You wanted to fuck me, you’re leaving my bar,’ and he pushed him out,” the eyewitness told the French newspaper.
“That’s when the other brandished a knife, not a very small one. I don’t even know how he got around with it. He went for the throat. There was blood everywhere. I was in shock,” the eyewitness added.
The 37-year-old Senegalese national was arrested at the scene by French police and remains in custody. According to French media, the suspect is legally residing in France. He is, however, already known to police.
Upon his arrest, authorities recovered a butterfly knife, which is believed to have been used in the attack.
The victim was taken to the hospital and is understood to be recovering. “He’s out of the woods,” revealed the local mayor, Lamia Bensarsa Reda.
The Evry prosecutor’s office announced that an investigation for attempted homicide was opened and is ongoing.