Video shows Paris airport attacker grabbing soldier’s gun

Video of a suspected Islamic extremist at Paris‘ Orly airport shows a soldier caught by surprise when an attacker drops a shopping bag and grabs her from behind.

The Associated Press has obtained security footage of Saturday’s attack, which caused panic and shut down the French capital’s second-biggest airport. It shows the attacker grabbing the soldier
around the shoulders as her companion patrols slightly ahead.

WATCH: Man fatally shot after attacking soldier at Paris airport

1:49 Man fatally shot after attacking soldier at Paris airport

He has dropped his shopping bag, which authorities said contained a flask of gasoline. Holding a revolver loaded with birdshot, he pulls her backward.

For a few moments, almost no one reacts. One passenger rolls a suitcase past the hostage soldier and the second soldier continues on his way. Then, suddenly, people start backing away in a mass as the attacker pulls his hostage toward them.

Yelling that he wanted to kill and die for Allah, according to the Paris prosecutor, Ziyed Ben Belgacem can be seeing trying to wrestle away the soldier’s assault rifle. Belgacem was shot dead
within three minutes during the standoff as he approached the small cluster of people. No one was injured at the airport.

READ MORE: Man shot and killed after grabbing soldier’s gun at Paris airport

Earlier Saturday, a police officer was shot in the face with birdshot when officers stopped Belgacem for a traffic violation. Authorities say Belgacem, a 39-year-old Frenchman, had a long
criminal record of drug and robbery offences.

Autopsy toxicology tests found traces of cocaine and cannabis in Belgacem’s blood, according to the Paris prosecutors’ office. He also had 0.93 grams of alcohol per litre of blood when he died
Saturday, the prosecutors’ office said. That is nearly twice the legal limit for driving in France.

In an interview Sunday with French radio Europe 1, a man identified as the suspect’s father said that Belgacem wasn’t a practicing Muslim and drank alcohol.