France knife attack: Man stabs pre-school children in park

A man, who was wielding a knife, stabbed eight people in a playground in Annecy, France on Thursday. The victims included four small children and an adult. Three of the victims have suffered life-threatening injuries.

The incident happened when the children, who were about three-year olds, were playing in a park at around 9.45 a.m, according to the reports. The suspect, who is reportedly a Syrian asylum seeker, has been arrested, French media outlets said.

The attack has taken place in a square in Annecy, a small lakeside town in the Alps, said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.


Calling the attack “abominable”, a local lawmaker Antoine Armand said on Twitter that the kids were attacked on a playground.

The police said, out of the four children hurt, two have suffered life-threatening injuries while the rest of the kids were slightly injured. One adult, which was also stabbed, has suffered life-threatening wounds, the cops said.

The situation is developing, the police cautioned. As the full details weren't clear yet, the number of wounded may increase, an Interior Ministry official said.

Emmanuel Macron, who is the current French President, has called the attack in the Alpine town of Annecy an "attack of absolute cowardice". He added, “children and an adult are between life and death.”

On Twitter, the leader said, "The nation is shocked. Our thoughts are with (the victims) as well as their families and the emergency services," he wrote.

The office of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said that she was travelling to the scene. A minute's silence was also observed by the MPs in the French parliament in solidarity with the victims.

While interrupting a raucous debate about pension reform, French parliament Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet told MPs, "We hope that the consequences of this extremely serious attack... will not send the country into mourning."

FAQs

Q1:Who is the President of France?
Emmaneul Macron is the current President of France.

Q2:Who is the suspect in France's baby stab incident?
The suspect in this case is a Syrian, who is in his 30s.