Paris police attacker suffered 'psychotic fit'

His wife 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.

Paris: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.

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

His wife has 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.

Reportedly, he has converted to Islam 18 months ago and had recently stopped talking to female colleagues in the office.

However, there is no indication that he had been radicalised before the attack, a government spokeswoman said.

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

The incident 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.