Eight young children and an adult were wounded on Thursday in a mass stabbing in the town of Annecy in the French Alps, Ednews reports citing The National News.
A man armed with a knife reportedly attacked the group at 9.45am local time on Thursday as the children, who are all around three years-old, were playing in a park near the lake in the town, according to reports.
Three children are in a life-threatening condition following the attack, said police.
The suspected attacker's identity is being verified and has not been confirmed, according to the source, who added that he is thought to be unknown to security services.
A local politician, Antoine Armand, tweeted that children were attacked on a playground. He called the attack “abominable.”
In Paris, politicians interrupted a debate to hold a moment of silence for the victims.
France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a tweet that police had detained the attacker.
“Several people including children have been injured by an individual armed with a knife in a square in Annecy,” he tweeted.
An aide of French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said she will travel to Annecy on Thursday.
