Nice: British man held in custody over suspected attempted murder

Sunday 16 August 2026 - 15:30

By: Sahili Aya

Nice: British man held in custody over suspected attempted murder

A 49-year-old British man has been placed in police custody in Nice on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman in her sixties was repeatedly stabbed during the night, according to the Nice prosecutor’s office.

The attack took place shortly after midnight on Sunday on Georges Clemenceau Avenue, near Nice railway station. The victim remains in critical condition, with her life reportedly in danger.

Suspect detained at the scene

According to prosecutors, the suspect allegedly attacked the woman several times with a knife at around 12:30 a.m. The incident occurred at an address on Georges Clemenceau Avenue in the area around the railway station.

A resident of the building intervened and managed to restrain the alleged attacker before police officers arrived.

The suspect, who is British and 49 years old, was subsequently taken into custody as investigators began working to establish what led to the attack.

The relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victim has not been established at this stage.

Criminal investigation under way

The investigation has been entrusted to the criminal brigade of Nice’s local judicial police service.

Prosecutors said the investigation is intended to clarify the circumstances of the attack and determine the context in which the alleged assault occurred.

Authorities are also examining the events leading up to the stabbing as they seek to establish a precise account of what happened.

Reports suggesting that the incident may have involved sexual violence have circulated in the French media. The Nice prosecutor’s office said those allegations cannot be confirmed at this stage.

Victim remains in critical condition

The woman, who is in her sixties, suffered multiple stab wounds and remains in a life-threatening condition.

Her medical situation is likely to remain a key element of the investigation as authorities determine the precise legal classification of the alleged acts.

The suspect remains in police custody while investigators continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.