The Annecy prosecutor rules out “terrorist motivations” for the perpetrator of the attack with a knife that injured several children in a playground. In statements to journalists, the magistrate explained that an investigation has been opened and the case is being treated as an “attempted murder.”
Four children were seriously injured in the attack. Among the victims are two adults. Two of the children are British and Dutch nationals.
Together with the prosecutor, the French prime minister assured that the country is “in shock” due to the brutality of the attack. “We are shocked by this heinous attack,” he said.
The suspect is a 31-year-old Syrian man. He had refugee status in Sweden and had been living in France for seven months, where he had applied for political asylum.
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the “absolute cowardice attack” in Annecy.
“Children and an adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock,” Emmanuel Macron said, in a post on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and the forces deployed,” added the French president.
Deputies and members of the French government interrupted a debate in the National Assembly to observe a minute of silence.
The French agency also indicated that the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, will travel to Annecy.
The man, who was arrested, attacked around 09:45 (local time, 08:45 in Lisbon) children of about three years who were in a park near Lake Annecy.
*with lusa
Source: TSF
