[1/5] French troopers safe the realm after a number of children and an grownup have been injured in a knife attack in Annecy, in the French Alps, France, June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
ANNECY, France, June 8 (Reuters) – A Syrian nationwide wounded 4 younger children and an grownup in a knife attack in a park in the southeastern French city of Annecy on Thursday, police mentioned, and a number of the victims have been in important situation.
The attacker was a Syrian nationwide with authorized refugee standing in France, a police official advised Reuters. He was not identified to safety businesses and his motives have been unclear, an investigative supply mentioned.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned on Twitter that the attacker had been arrested. BFM TV confirmed footage of a number of policemen overpowering a person in the park.
Two children and one grownup have been in life-threatening situation, whereas two children have been barely harm, police mentioned. The wounded children have been aged between 22 months and 3 years, they mentioned.
“Children and one adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock,” French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in a press release on Twitter, calling the attack “an act of absolute cowardice”.
Witnesses mentioned at the very least one of many children wounded in the attack was in a stroller. The incident came about at round 0745 GMT in the playground of a picturesque lakeside park in Annecy, a city in the French Alps.
“He jumped (in the playground), started shouting and then went towards the strollers, repeatedly hitting the little ones with a knife,” a witness who gave his identify as Ferdinand advised BFM TV.
“Mothers were crying, everybody was running,” mentioned George, one other witness and proprietor of a close-by restaurant.
Several witnesses described the scene of the attack, the Le Paquiet park, as an normally tranquil place widespread with vacationers for its gorgeous views of Lake Annecy and the mountains.
“It’s a place where babysitters and parents take young children to play. I often see around 15 toddlers there in the morning, and the atmosphere is fantastic,” mentioned Yohan, who works at an ice-cream parlour simply reverse the park.
France has been shocked by various violent incidents over the previous few months, together with the deadly stabbing final month of a nurse in the northern city of Reims. Also final month, a drunk driver by chance killed three policemen.
Macron has denounced what he calls a “de-civilisation process” in the nation, whereas opposition lawmakers say his authorities has been too lax on legislation and order.
“Nothing more abominable than to attack children,” National Assembly speaker Yael Braun-Pivet mentioned on Twitter. Parliament noticed a minute of silence to mark the incident.
Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Geert De Clercq and Juliette Jabkhiro
Writing by Geert De Clercq and Silvia Aloisi
Editing by Toby Chopra and Frances Kerry
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