France: Six stabbed in random attack in park playground

France: Six stabbed in random attack in park playground
French police. Credit: Belga

Six people, two adults and four young children, were stabbed in a knife attack at a playground in the French city of Annecy on Thursday morning. Among the victims, the youngest is 22 months old while another has been confirmed as a British child.

Three of the victims (two children and one adult) are said to be suffering from life-threatening injuries from the stabbings, which occurred at around 09:45 in a large park bordering Lake Annecy.

According to witnesses interviewed by BFM TV, the assailant was "rapidly" arrested by police who have since identified him as a 31-year-old asylum seeker. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne confirmed that he had no criminal or psychiatric record with the terrorist motive ruled out.

In the meantime, the victims were transferred to the Annecy Genevois Hospital with other witnesses taken to a nearby building as the surrounding area around was cordoned off by a large police force.

French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the tragedy on Twitter, which he described as an "absolutely cowardly attack." A minute's silence was also held at the country's National Assembly.

This story was updated at 15:50.


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