Syrian Knifeman Stabs 8 French Preschool Kids Aged 3 Playing in Park

Multiple children aged around three are stabbed by Syrian asylum seeker in French playground carnage: Mass-stabbing sparks absolute panic among families before knifeman is overpowered

• Witnesses saw the man attacking a group of children at a park in Annecy
• The suspect, identified as Abdalmash H, was subdued at the scene and arrested

Several children aged around three years old were stabbed by a knifeman in a frenzied attack at a playground in the French Alps today, leaving three victims in a critical condition.

Dramatic video shows the attacker, believed to be a Syrian asylum seeker, being pinned to the ground by armed police officers in a lakeside park in Annecy, an alpine town in southeastern France, at around 9.45am.

Horrified witnesses say mothers ran past them screaming 'run, run' in the aftermath of the frenzied attack, which President Emmanuel Macron has condemned as an 'attack of absolute cowardice'.

Witnesses said the knifeman had begun attacking the preschool children while they were playing at a small playground before members of the public chased him away. 

Witnesses said the knifeman had begun attacking the preschool children while they were playing at a small playground in a scene of utter 'carnage'. They said he had launched his onslaught on the toddlers because they were 'easy targets'.

Armed police arrived at the scene and quickly subdued the knifeman, a refugee identified as Abdalmash H by the French Interior Ministry, before he was arrested.

Three children are now in a life-threatening condition at a nearby hospital following the savage attack.

Video shows armed policeman subduing the attacker and pinning him on the ground following the knife attack in Annecy on Thursday

Eight children aged three years old were stabbed by a knifeman in a French playground this morning before the attacker was subdued by police. Pictured: Armed police at the scene

Paramedics at the scene treat victims at the scene of the attack in Annecy on Thursday

Three children are now in a critical condition and fighting for their lives at a nearby hospital following the attack.

A witness, who asked not to be named, said: 'The man was shouting in English, and caused absolute panic when he started attacking the little ones. 

'He wanted to hurt as many people as he could. He caused carnage. The young children were just easy targets.'

Another witness told Le Dauphine: 'We saw a person attacking children playing games, small ones, obviously that was his target. After people tried to scare him, he walked away and the police intervened. 

'He spoke English. At the beginning, we all thought it was staged, but with the cries of people, we realised it was reality.' 

The Interior Ministry said Abdalmash H had arrived in France in 2022 and had a refugee status. 

Video shows three two armed police officers and a man pinning the attacker down on the grass before he was taken away. 

The suspect told detectives he was a Syrian asylum seeker, a police source said. His 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.

Armed police arrived at the scene and quickly subdued the knifeman (pictured), believed to be a Syrian asylum seeker, before he was arrested and taken to hospital for injuries, the French newspaper reported

Politicians inside the National Assembly in Paris held a minute of silence for the victims of the knife attack this morning

Witnesses told Le Dauphine that a man began attacking the group of young children while they were playing at a small playground in Annecy, an alpine town in southeastern France, at around 9.45am

France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted: '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.'

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is now travelling to the scene of the attack, according to her aide.

Politicians inside the National Assembly in Paris held a minute of silence for the victims of the knife attack this morning. 

Local politician Antoine Armand said in a tweet that children were targeted in a playground in an 'abominable' attack.

He wrote: 'We still know very little but all my support for the victims, relatives, law enforcement and rescue.'

And François Astorg, the Mayor of Annecy, said: 'Appalling attack this morning on the Paquier park in Annecy. All my thoughts to the victims and families.' 

A paramedic runs to treat the victims of the attack in Annecy today in an attack that left several children injured

Paramedics and police officers are seen at the scene of the frenzied knife attack in Annecy