Paris police attacker suffered 'psychotic fit'

The wife of a man who stabbed to death four police officers outside the central police headquarters in Paris, before being shot dead, has said that he had a psychotic episode, was incoherent and heard voices the night before the attack, the media reported on Friday.

Mickael Harpon, 45, was shot dead by police following the incident on Thursday. His wife has been taken into custody, although the Paris prosecutor's office said that she had not been charged yet, the BBC reported.

His wife has apparently told the police that he had a disagreement with his bosses and felt his work was unappreciated. Harpon was also described as 70 per cent deaf.

He converted to Islam 18 months ago, according to reports, and had recently stopped talking to female colleagues in the office.

But a government spokeswoman has said there is no indication he had been radicalised before the attack.

A fifth person who was injured was undergoing treatment.

President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner have all visited the site.

The killings came a day after a rare nationwide police strike on Wednesday, which saw thousands of officers demonstrating in Paris over working hours, shortages in resources and controversial pension reforms.IANS