A horrific knife attack in a playground in the French Alps left four children and two adults injured on Friday, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. local time in Annecy, a popular tourist destination near the Swiss border. The victims were aged between 22 months and three years old, and one of them was a British child, according to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
The suspect, a 37-year-old man who was not known to the victims, was arrested at the scene by police. He reportedly suffers from mental health issues and had been released from a psychiatric hospital in September.
The motive for the attack is unclear, but authorities said there was no indication of terrorism or radicalization. The suspect had a knife and scissors in his possession, and witnesses said he appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The injured children and adults were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Some of them suffered serious wounds to the head, neck and chest, but none of them are in life-threatening condition, according to local media.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with the victims and their families on Twitter, saying he was “deeply shocked” by the “barbaric act”. He also praised the “courage” of the police officers who intervened quickly to stop the attacker.
