1995 France bombings

On July 25, 1995, the Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame station became the site of a deadly terrorist attack when a bomb detonated inside a train car as it pulled into the station platform. The explosion occurred during the evening rush hour, instantly transforming the busy transit hub into a scene of chaos and emergency response. In the immediate aftermath, the square above the station and the nearby Notre-Dame esplanade served as critical staging grounds, with local cafés functioning as makeshift field hospitals for the wounded. The attack, which claimed eight lives and left nearly two hundred people injured, marked the beginning of a tense summer of violence that saw several additional bombings across the city. Today, a commemorative plaque remains at the station to mark the tragedy and honor the victims.