Two children and an adult are in a life-threatening condition after a knife attack in southeast France, ITV News’ Nina Hossain has the latest
Four children under the age of five are among those who have been attacked by a man armed with a knife in a lakeside park in a town in the French Alps.
Two of the children, both aged around three-years-old, suffered life-threatening injuries, French police said.
The two others were lightly wounded. Police said one adult also suffered life-threatening wounds. A second adult was also injured and is being treated with the others in hospital.
Emergency services attend a park in Annecy, where at least four children and two adults were attacked by a man carrying a knife
Both police and the Interior Ministry officials cautioned the number of wounded could evolve because the full details weren’t yet clear.
The incident reportedly happened in a playground in the town of Annecy on Thursday.
Footage, filmed by witnesses and obtained by BMFTV, appears to show the moment officers arrested the suspected attacker.
A witness who spoke to BFMTV said he saw the attacker assault an elderly man, jumping on him and stabbing him repeatedly. He said he yelled at police to act.
“I screamed, screamed at them to intervene,” he said.
President Macron called the incident an “attack of absolute cowardice” and those involved are now in a life or death situation.
Writing on Twitter he said: “Attack of absolute cowardice this morning in a park in Annecy. Children and an adult are between life and death. The Nation is in shock. Our thoughts are with them as well as their families and the emergency services mobilised.”
Local politician, Antoine Armand, said the children were attacked on a playground. Speaking to BFMTV from the National Assembly building in Paris, he said the victims included “very young” children and they were “savagely attacked.” The attack took place close to a primary school, he said.
Health Minister François Braun tweeted: “All my thoughts are immediately with those injured by an individual armed with a knife in Annecy, and their loved ones. I salute the rapid mobilization of the emergency services to take care of the victims, and in particular the the Urgent Medical Aid Service (SAMU).”
In Paris, politicians interrupted a debate to hold a moment of silence for the victims.
Assembly president Yael Braun-Pivet called for a minute’s silence after hearing news that ‘very young children’ were in a ‘critical condition’ following the attack
The assembly president, Yaël Braun-Pivet, said: “There are some very young children who are in critical condition and I invite you to respect a minute of silence for them, for their families, and so that, we hope, the consequences of this very grave attack do not lead to the nation grieving.”
Prime Minster Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin have announced they are headed to the scene.
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