A British girl was one of four young children and two adults who were stabbed at a popular tourist spot in France.
The alleged attacker, 31-year-old Abdalmash H, originally from Syria, was detained by police. French authorities say it is not being treated as a terrorist incident.
An investigating source said also Abdalmash was a ‘declared and devout Christian’ who carried a prayer book and a cross at the time of his arrest.
Witnesses said the the attacker ‘jumped out’ in the park and started shouting and ‘repeatedly stabbing the children.’
The park is a popular destination in the southeast town, one witness said the incident took place around ‘boats, pedalos, and countless tourists.’
Four children aged between 22 months and three, and two adults, were seriously injured in the attack. Two of the young victims and one of the adults are now in life-threatening condition at a nearby hospital.
Here is a timeline of the tragic event at Annecy park.
The attacker, identified as Abdalmash H, 32, (pictured holding the knife in the playground) ‘jumped out’ and repeatedly stabbed his victims, an alpine town in southeastern France , at around 9.45am
A local prosecutor said there was ‘no obvious terrorist motive’ for the attack, adding that Abdalmash was ‘not known by any intelligence service’ and did not have ‘any history of psychiatric problems’. He is pictured being apprehended by armed police
Thursday, June 8
9:45am: An attack was launched at the lakeside park in the town of Annecy, a tourist hotspot in southeast France.
Six people were injured in the attack including four children between 22 months and three.
Two children and one adult were left in critical condition.
Four minutes after the first police call an arrest was made. The male suspect, reported to be a Syrian asylum seeker, was taken to custody.
10:00am: Politicians in the French National Assembly in Paris interrupted a debate to hold a minute’s silence for children and others injured in the attack.
It is announced French President Emmanual Macron will fly to Annecy to meet the victims.
11:30am: A press conference was confirmed to take place and was pushed back by until the afternoon.
12:46pm: A witness reports that the suspect ‘had been sitting on a bench around the lake for 3 days’ before the attack.
2:24pm: UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman tweets: ‘I am appalled by the attack on young children in Annecy, France.’
‘My thoughts are with the children, their families and the local community who have been affected by this shocking act.’
2:28pm: Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne revealed the suspect as a 32-year-old Syrian male who had obtained refuge in Sweden in April 2023, and was able to travel to France because of his status.
Paramedics treat victims at the scene of the attack in Annecy on Thursday, with one victim in a pram
Witnesses of the horrific knife attack are seen running away from the scene in Annecy on Thursday 9 June
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is pictured at the scene in Annecy on June 8. She said Abdalmash has a child who is the same age as the children he attacked
French prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said the suspect has a child who is the same age as one of the children who was attacked.
Ms Borne said the man had no criminal record or psychiatric record. His motives remain unclear but were not thought to be linked to terrorism.
5:00pm: The four children are reported to still be in critical condition.
6:20pm: Locals gather at the park. One witness told BFMTV: ‘There is a feeling of anger, sadness and hatred.’
A man offers flowers for the victims at a playground in the ‘Jardins de l’Europe’ in Annecy
Local residents gathered in ‘Jardins de l’Europe’ in Annecy placing flowers for the victims still recovering in hospital on June 9
Friday, June 9
8:00am: Local residents and children of Annecy continue to pay their respects to the victims
9:00am: French President Emmanual and Brigitte Macron arrive at Grenoble hospital to meet the victims of the attack
9:33: Elisabeth Borne gives updates on the victims, describing their condition as ‘stable’.
11:45am: Video emerges of Henri, a philosophy graduate student surface online as he blocks the attacker with a backpack.
Social media hail him as the ‘backpack hero’, he told BFMTV: ‘I acted as any Frenchman would have done.’
11:57am: It is confirmed the French president will meet Henri, the ‘backpack hero’
12:35am: Emmanual Macron leaves Grenoble University Hospital and heads to Annecy
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