Three youngsters are in a life-threatening situation after a knife assault in southeast France, police have mentioned.

Eight youngsters and one grownup have been injured in complete, officers added.

The children are all about three years of age, police mentioned.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned a suspect had been arrested "thanks to the swift intervention of police".

It occurred within the French city of Annecy, he added, not removed from the Swiss border.

The assault occurred in a park and the assailant was a Syrian asylum seeker, BFM TV reported.