Bangladeshi political and online activist Nahid M Helal, widely known on social media as Nahid Rains, survived an attempted attack in France after a group of suspected assailants targeted him near his residence. French police arrived promptly and dispersed the attackers before they could carry out the assault. Initial reports suggest that several of the attackers were living in France without legal documents. Police have since launched a manhunt to identify and arrest them.
Nahid detailed the incident in a Facebook post, explaining that on Tuesday evening, while he had stepped out to buy groceries, a group of three to four men confronted him. The attackers allegedly threatened him, saying, “Today we will beat you, we will kill you.” Nahid responded by stepping forward and saying, “Go ahead, hit me. Why so much talk?”
He stated that the moment he reached for his phone to call the police, the assailants panicked and fled the area. Within minutes, French police arrived at the scene and collected evidence. Footage from Nahid’s car dashcam and video recorded by nearby witnesses were handed over to investigators.
Later, Nahid filed an official complaint at the police station. He revealed that he had been receiving threats for some time from individuals believed to be connected to groups based in Paris. Authorities assured him of maximum security and have intensified efforts to track down those involved.
Nahid added that several individuals with political affiliations appeared at the scene after the incident, though he clarified that not all were linked to the attackers. He stated that he has already identified the people involved and intends to publicly reveal their details once legal proceedings are complete.
Nahid confirmed that he is currently safe and in good health.
He commented: “Whoever or whichever organization orchestrated this attack will face serious embarrassment. The consequences will not be in their favor.”