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.
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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.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was speaking at an OECD ministerial council press conference hours after the attack. He said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the families, and we stand ready to support the French authorities in whichever way we can.”
He said he was “also aware that one of the people, one of the children injured, was a British national”.
“We have already deployed British consular officials who are travelling to the area to make themselves available to support the family. And of course we stand in strong solidarity with the people of France at this terrible time.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has also updated its travel advice for France. It advises those in the area to follow the advice of local authorities.
It said: “On 8 June, there was an attack in Annecy, South East France. Six people, including four children, were injured.
“If you are in the area, follow the advice of local authorities. If you require consular support, call the British Consulate in Paris on +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00.”
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