A 26-year-old man was fatally shot by police Saturday in the Corsican capital of Ajaccio after allegedly threatening pedestrians and shopkeepers with a knife, prompting investigations into the actions of both the deceased and the responding officers.The incident, which unfolded on the Cours Napoléon around 12:30 p.m. local time, occurred during a busy weekend as tourists and residents alike enjoyed the city’s cafes and shops [[1]]. Authorities have ruled out terrorism, but the shooting is already intensifying scrutiny of police protocols in France regarding the use of force, especially in cases potentially involving mental health concerns. Investigations led by the IGPN, France’s police oversight body, are underway.
A man wielding a knife was fatally shot by police in central Ajaccio, Corsica, on Saturday, according to the local prosecutor. The incident, which occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Cours Napoléon, has prompted an investigation and raised questions about police use of force in France.
Authorities say the 26-year-old man of Senegalese origin had been threatening both shopkeepers and pedestrians with a knife. Police initially attempted to subdue him with a taser, but it proved ineffective. Following the failed attempt, an officer discharged their firearm multiple times, resulting in the man’s death, officials stated.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene. “I was sitting on a terrace with my employee,” recounted a local pastry chef. “I saw a man with a knife run past my head. I managed to push him a little, and then another man hit him with a chair. He fell to the ground and was then shot.”
The prosecutor, Nicolas Septe, indicated that the incident is not being treated as a terrorist act. “At this stage, I can rule out a terrorist attack, as the individual did not make any threats in that direction,” he told reporters.
The investigation has revealed that the man had a prior run-in with law enforcement in Seine-Saint-Denis in January 2025, facing charges related to threats. During that arrest, he was found in possession of a knife and resisted officers while being handcuffed. A medical evaluation at the time recommended his immediate hospitalization, leading to the suspension of his detention.
Cours Napoléon, a busy thoroughfare in Ajaccio, was closed to traffic following the shooting. Forensic police were on the scene collecting evidence in the early afternoon. The body of the man lay covered with a cloth in the middle of the roadway.
According to the prosecutor, the man, who held a student visa, had been riding a scooter before the incident. He allegedly had an initial altercation in one bar, potentially injuring someone, and was subsequently ejected while brandishing a knife. A second confrontation in another bar on Cours Napoléon then prompted the police intervention.
Septe stated that the man “refused to obey instructions and threw his scooter at the police, without hitting them.” Police then attempted to subdue him with a taser, again without success. The man then allegedly raised the knife towards an officer, prompting the use of deadly force. “One of the officers, seeing his colleague threatened, then used his service weapon, neutralizing the aggressor,” the prosecutor explained.
An investigation has been launched into the police officer who fired the fatal shots, focusing on allegations of “aggravated voluntary homicide.” A separate investigation is underway into the actions of the deceased man, focusing on “aggravated attempted homicide.” The investigation by the IGPN, France’s police oversight body, is ongoing.
The incident is likely to fuel ongoing debate in France regarding police tactics and the use of lethal force, particularly in interactions with individuals experiencing mental health crises. The investigation will examine whether the officers followed protocol and whether the use of deadly force was justified given the circumstances.
