Man Armed with Knife Fatally Shot by Police in Central Ajaccio

On December 20, 2025, a 26-year-old man threatening people with a knife was fatally shot by police in the center of Ajaccio, Corsica. The incident took place around noon on course Napoléon, a busy street in the city. According to the public prosecutor of Ajaccio, the man was menacing merchants and passersby, prompting police intervention.

Authorities initially attempted to subdue the man using a taser, but this non-lethal method proved ineffective. Subsequently, one officer discharged their firearm multiple times, resulting in the man's death. The intervention left one police officer with a minor hand injury, while no other civilians were harmed.

The police oversight body, the Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN), has opened an investigation into the shooting. Following the event, course Napoléon was closed to traffic and forensic teams arrived at the scene. Footage shared on social media showed the man advancing rapidly along the street with police officers shouting commands to use the taser before the shooting occurred.

This shooting marks a significant use of lethal force by law enforcement in Corsica, and more details are expected as the investigation proceeds. The incident has heightened scrutiny over the police response during threats involving weapons in public spaces.