France ‘in shock’ after knife attack on children in the Alps

PARIS — Five people, including four children and one adult, were injured in a knife attack in the French Alpine town of Annecy on Thursday, according to French media reports.

Two children and one adult are in critical condition, according to the AFP.

A man attacked young children in a playground in a park near the lake of Annecy before being stopped by the French police. The suspect, a Syrian asylum seeker, has been arrested, according to local media.

French President Emmanuel Macron has denounced the stabbing as an act “of absolute cowardice” in comments made online.

“Children and an adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock. Our thoughts are with them, their families and the rescue services,” he said.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin were heading to the site of the attack on Thursday morning. The attack is not being treated as a terrorism case, per authorities.

A security perimeter has been set up around the park and children in local schools have been requested to stay indoors, said Loic Hervé, senator from the Haute-Savoie department.

French lawmakers held a minute of silence at the National Assembly on Thursday morning.

Local authorities are expected to hold a press conference at 1330 local time.