Days earlier than launching the world’s oldest and highest-profile animation pageant, the French metropolis of Annecy is in shock after a person wielding a knife attacked a gaggle of schoolchildren and adults in an area park.
In keeping with authorities from the Haute-Savoie prefecture, six folks had been injured within the assault, 4 of them preschool-age youngsters. Two of the youngsters and one grownup are mentioned to be in a severe situation, with the others “barely harm.” All six had been taken to the hospital.
The assault happened in Le Pâquier d’Annecy, a park on the north facet of the lake. Anybody who has attended the Annecy pageant previously has probably walked its paths quite a few occasions commuting to and from the Bonlieu and the Impérial Palace.
Native reviews have indicated that the suspected attacker is a 31-year-old Syrian refugee who initially utilized for asylum in France and was granted it in Sweden in April. Police haven’t but supplied any motive for the assault.
Beginning this weekend, the Annecy Competition will host greater than 14,000 friends, a brand new file for the occasion.
Competition organizers had been understandably shocked after studying of the assault, and have since launched a short assertion:
The Annecy Worldwide Animation Movie Competition administration and workforce had been shocked to be taught in regards to the tragic occasions that happened on Le Pâquier this morning. Our ideas instantly go to the victims and their households.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted (translated by Google):
Assault of absolute cowardice this morning in a park in Annecy. Youngsters and an grownup are between life and demise. The Nation is in shock. Our ideas are with them in addition to their households and the emergency companies mobilized.
Annecy mayor François Astorg mentioned he was appalled by the assault, and {that a} information convention can be held later within the day.
Replace from the afternoon new convention of French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne:
In keeping with Bourne, the kid victims had been as younger as 22 months and three years previous and all 4 are in a “extreme state.” Witnesses to the assault who weren’t bodily injured are in shock and receiving specialist medical care.
She confirmed that the suspect is in custody and that he’s a Syrian nationwide who had refugee standing in Sweden. He has no felony or psychiatric file. There may be nonetheless no indication of motive, however police have mentioned there is no such thing as a proof of a hyperlink to terrorism.
