Initially planning to assassinate Sadi Carnot, the president of the republic, who had just refused to pardon Auguste Vaillant, he decided against the attack upon noticing the large number of police officers stationed around the Élysée Palace.

Émile Henry was arrested at the end of this episode, sentenced to death, and guillotined three months later.

[3] After fleeing to the United Kingdom, Belgium, and then returning to France, Henry adopted an illegalist lifestyle.

[3] The news of Ravachol's execution (1892), of the voting of the Lois scélérates (1893-1894), and the denial of a presidential pardon to Auguste Vaillant for his attack on the National Assembly (1894) drove Henry to act.

[4] After arriving near the Élysée Palace and noticing a heavy police presence, Henry decided not to carry out the attack there.