Four children and two adults were stabbed at a playground in the French Alps on Thursday.
Two of the young children and one of the adults are “between life and death,” French President Emmanuel Macronsaid after the attack.
It was an “attack of absolute cowardice,” he tweeted, adding “The Nation is in shock. Our thoughts are with them as well as their families and the emergency services mobilized.”
OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty
The incident occurred in the Alpine town of Annecy at a lakeside park around 9:45 a.m. Thursday, according toNBC News.
A group of young schoolchildren was on a field trip to Lake Annecy when they were attacked, the outlet reported.
Scene following knife attack in France.Mourad ALLILI/SIPA/Shutterstock
Mourad ALLILI/SIPA/Shutterstock
The injured children are between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old, police toldReuters. The outlet also reported that witnesses said at least one of the children attacked was in a stroller.
The suspect was arrested due to “very rapid intervention of the police,” Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin tweeted.
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Moment of silence.Jacques Witt/SIPA/Shutterstock
Jacques Witt/SIPA/Shutterstock
According to theAssociated Press, lawmakers in Paris held a moment of silence for the victims.
“There are some very young children who are in critical condition and I invite you to respect a minute of silence for them, for their families, and so that, we hope, the consequences of this very grave attack do not lead to the nation grieving,” said Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, per the AP.
François Astorg, the Mayor of Annecy, immediately went to the scene, the city said.
“All my thoughts are with the victims and the families,” Astorgsaid in a tweet.
source: people.com
