A distressing incident occurred in a park near Lake Annecy in France’s south-east, as confirmed by the country’s interior minister. Four very young children were stabbed, resulting in a critical condition for at least two of them. The attacker was swiftly apprehended by the police.
Expressing their condemnation, regional deputy Antoine Armand labeled the attack as “abominable.” Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne is en route to the scene to assess the situation firsthand.
Authorities have provided limited information about the incident, and an investigation is underway. Thoughts and sympathies are extended to the victims and their families, according to Mr. Armand.
Initially, local officials reported six children injured, but it was later confirmed that there were six victims in total, four of whom were children.
According to sources from Le Parisien, BFM TV, and AFP citing police, the suspect is believed to be a Syrian refugee. The assailant targeted the children, some of whom were in strollers, while they were visiting the park. Subsequently, he fled the scene and proceeded to stab an elderly man nearby.
The police swiftly intervened, shooting the perpetrator in the legs.
In response to the shocking incident, a minute of silence was observed in France’s National Assembly, and roadblocks were established near the site of the attack.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed the nation’s shock and characterized the act as “cowardly” in a tweet.
Anthony le Tallec, a former football player for Liverpool, happened to be in the town during the attack. He recounted hearing people shouting “Run! Run!” and witnessed the police pursuing the alleged attacker after he assaulted an elderly man. Mr. le Tallec continued his run along the lake, where he encountered the injured children lying on the ground. He expressed disbelief at such an event occurring in Annecy.
Another witness, Eleanor Vincent, shared her shock upon approaching the lake. She described the scene as people going about their business or enjoying their holidays, only to be confronted by the horrifying incident.