Man attacked children with a knife in a playground in France – Arrested by the authorities

A man armed with a knife attacked children on a playground in a square on Lake Annecy on Thursday morning, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

ALERTE – Des enfants d’une école maternelle, aged around 3 years, ont été attacés au couteau par un individual au lac d’#Annecy. Au moins 7 blessés dont 6 enfants. L’homme a été maîtrisé. De nombreux secouristes, policeis et militaires sont sur place (Le Dauphiné). pic.twitter.com/iMcrSwJBgx

— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrançaises) June 8, 2023

AFP news agency reported that seven people were injured in the attack, including children, with local media BFM TV reporting that the children were around three years old.

In a short tweet, Gerald Darmanin reported that the police had arrested the attacker.

“Several people, including children, were injured by a person armed with a knife in a square in Annecy”he characteristically wrote on Twitter.

Several people without children were wounded by an individual armed with a knife in a square in Annecy. L’individu a été interpellé thanks to l’intervention très rapide des forces de l’ordre.

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) June 8, 2023

#BREAKING: Syrian man arrested over mass stabbing attack at local playground in south-eastern French town of Annecy in Alps – Le Dauphiné Libéré pic.twitter.com/5uubBGXTx4

— IEN (@BreakingIEN) June 8, 2023

According to the first information, the attacker had a Syrian identity card on him and is an asylum seeker.

The French Prime Minister, Elizabeth Bourne, is on her way to the scene of the incident.

France’s National Assembly observed a minute’s silence and roads around the site of the attack have been cordoned off.

Après l’attaque au knife contre des enfants à #Annecyl’Assemblée nationale observe une minute de silence pic.twitter.com/nfiyMmzeWt

— Antoine Llorca (@antoinellorca) June 8, 2023