French President Macron slams assault on six children in park ‘act of cowardice’
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his horror within the wake of the assault that happened in a tranquil alpine city in south-east France. Mr Macron wrote on Twitter: “An attack of absolute cowardice [happened] this morning in a park in Annecy. Children and an adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock. Our thoughts are with them as well as their families and the emergency services mobilised.”
A person believed to have attacked with a knife no less than six kids taking part in at an area park and an grownup was arrested this morning within the city of Annecy.
France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin praised in a quick assertion the fast response of law enforcement officials.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Several people including children were injured by an individual armed with a knife in a square in Annecy. The individual was arrested thanks to the very rapid intervention of the police.”
The man has since been recognized by the French Interior Ministry as Abdalmash H., aged 32. A spokesman mentioned the alleged attacker had entered France in 2022 and has refugee standing.
The assault happened at roughly 8.45am BST (9.45am native time) at a small playground within the alpine city.
Witnesses claimed to native news outlet Le Dauphine to have seen a person beginning to assault a gaggle of youngsters whereas they had been taking part in.
The newspaper additionally claimed armed forces rapidly arrived on the scene and subdued the attacker, earlier than arresting him and taking him to hospital given he introduced accidents.
The man reportedly spoke English and had been seen wandering across the lake for a couple of days, eyewitnesses claimed. He was described as an outsider by neighbouring shopkeepers, and had been noticed swimming within the lake and dwelling on the street close to the world of the assault.
A witness to the scene instructed France Bleu Pays de Savoie: “We saw a person attacking small children, obviously that was his target. Then some people tried to help, he moved away and the police intervened. He spoke English.
“At first, all of us thought it was a set-up, however with individuals shouting, we realised it was the actual factor, the man was confused.”
Another witness claimed the attacker “brought on absolute panic” when he started attacking the children and “brought on brought on carnage”.
At least two of the children affected by the attack, all believed to be aged around three, are now in “life-threatening situations” and had been rushed to hospital, police mentioned.
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Among the casualties of the stabbing are additionally believed to be no less than an grownup, based on the prefecture and a supply near the case.
Authorities are actually investigating the assault, which was described as “abominable” by regional deputy Antoine Armand.
François Astorg, the mayor of Annecy, also took to Twitter, describing the attack as “appalling” and urged people to stay away from the cordoned area to allow the investigation to be carried out.
He added: “All my ideas to the victims and households. I’m there and I’ll communicate at 12:30 pm with the prefect of Haute-Savoie and the Annecy prosecutor within the Prefecture.”
Elisabeth Borne, France’s Prime minister, headed to the scene of the incident shortly after news of it emerged.
Frédérique Lardet, President of Greater Annecy, on France Bleu Pays de Savoie said this attack was an “remoted act”.
French lawmakers took part in a minute of silence in the national assembly to pay tribute to the casualties of this attack.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega
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