ANTI-TERROR cops have taken over the investigation into the terrifying stabbing attack that claimed four lives at police HQ in Paris.

Michael Harpon, 45, allegedly "heard voices" before killing four colleagues at a police station near Notre Dame in a bloody rampage yesterday.


Investigators are now working to find out just what motivated the stabbings, with reports it could have been a workplace dispute.

But anti-terror cops have now been brought in over the fatal attacks "in the light of the evidence gathered by criminal investigators."

Following a raid on Harpon's flat, prosecutors confirmed they had opened an investigation "in relation to a terrorist enterprise, attempted assassination of a public servant in relation to a terrorist enterprise, and conspiracy in terrorism".

It is understood the change came after the raids, including searches of his computer equipment and phone.

And while a government spokesperson said there was no indication Harpon had been radicalised, Paris police chief Didier Lallement told local media no theory had been ruled out.

More information has begun to emerge about Martinique-born Harpon.

The deaf 45-year-old had been a member of staff since 2003 and converted to Islam about 18 months ago.

He stabbed four people, including a female police officer, to death before seriously injuring another woman.

It wasn't until a rookie cop, on his fourth day of the job, shouted warnings and shot twice that the knifeman's rampage was brought to an end.



A witness told Le Parisien:"The policeman who was taking a break on duty called out three times but the assailant did not stop.

"He fired two shots and I saw the man fall."

He was armed with a ceramic knife which could not be picked up by metal detectors used by the building’s security, according to sources quoted by one local website.

The ceramic blade is a weapon of choice for jihadi attackers as it can evade detection, but is also often used in non-terror related crimes for the same reason.

Soon after he was killed cops raided his flat and arrested his wife, Iham, who told them he “heard voices” the night before the bloodbath – the worst loss of French police lives in a single day since World War II.

'DEMENTIA ATTACK'

“She says that her husband woke up suddenly the night before and said he had heard voices,” said a source close to the case.

“He was incoherent, and suffered a dementia attack, but went to work at the Prefecture anyway.”

The couple were both registered as profoundly deaf, and have two children aged nine and three.

Iham, who comes from an Arab background, is now communicating with officers through sign language, making her interview “very complicated,” said the source.

However, yesterday police union leader Jean-Marc Bailleul said the attack wasn't terror, telling BFM TV Harpon had suffered a “moment of madness".

Colleagues described Harpon as a previously trusted employee who had full security clearance to work in the Prefecture’s IT department.

The security crisis led to President Emmanuel Macron visiting the building in person, along with his Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

Serious concerns have been expressed this year about the psychological frailty of police staff in France.

A brigadier who shot himself in the head with his own service pistol in front of shocked colleagues has become the 50th French police officer to kill themselves last month.

The 45-year-old, who has not been named, died in the police station at Louvroil, close to the Belgium border on September 19.

President Emmanuel Macron had acknowledged that police officers have come under increasingly pressure because of growing security threats.

These include weekly demonstrations by the anti-government Gilets Jaunes – or Yellow Vests – movement, which frequently deteriorate into riots.







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