British child among victims stabbed in French knife attack

A British child is among those injured after several very young children were stabbed in a park in Annecy, France, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said. The incident happened on Thursday (June 8) Morning.

A suspected knifeman was arrested after the children, including one in a pushchair, were attacked. At least two children and one adult have been left with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Police said the suspect is a 31-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker. Video on social media appeared to show the attack in a children’s play park.

READ MORE: Children ‘fighting for life’ after stabbing at French playground

Footage showed a man in dark glasses and with a blue scarf covering his head brandishing a blade as people screamed for help. He first circled the playground, slashing at a bystander, and then climbed over its barriers to attack people inside.He appeared to stab a child in a pushchair repeatedly.

Local police said the four child victims are all under the age of five. National police said two of the children, both about three, suffered life-threatening injuries, as did one adult.

French President Emmanuel Macron described the attack as one of “absolute cowardice”. Of the victims, he said “children and an adult are between life and death”. “The nation is in shock,” he tweeted.

Local police said the four child victims are all under the age of five. National police said two of the children, both about three, suffered life-threatening injuries, as did one adult.

For more of today's top stories, click here.

READ NEXT: