A British child is among the victims injured following an attack at a lakeside park in the French Alps, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.
Earlier we told how a lone attacker armed with a knife struck out at the group of kids, all aged around three, at around 9.45am local time (8.45am UK time) on Thursday. The children were playing in a park popular with locals in the town of Annecy.
A suspect was rapidly taken into police custody "thanks to the rapid reaction of security forces", Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted. Four children and one adult were seriously injured when the 32-year-old attacker targeted his young victims "indiscriminately" in a playground.
It has now been reported that a three-year-old British child was among the victims. Three of the victims, including the British girl, are said to be in a life-threatening condition in hospital.
James Cleverly told an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) press conference: "Our thoughts are with the victims and the families and we stand ready to support the French authorities in whichever way we can. Also aware that one of the people, one of the children injured, was a British national.
"We have already deployed British consular officials who are travelling to the area to make themselves available to support the family. And of course we stand in strong solidarity with the people of France at this terrible time."
A minute of silence has been observed at the French parliament's National Assembly and the French Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, made her way to the scene earlier today.
Darmanin confirmed the attack, further saying: "Several people, including children, were injured by an individual armed with a knife in a square in Annecy." Antoine Armand, a member of Parliament for Haute-Savoie, has condemned the attack, calling it "abominable."
He continued: "Abominable knife attack on children in a playground in Annecy. We still know very little but all my support for the victims, relatives, law enforcement and rescue. With you in mind."
It was reported that several streets were blocked off by police following the incident.
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