4 Children Critically Wounded in France Knife Attack

Four children between 22 months and 3 years suffered life-threatening wounds when a man with a knife went on a stabbing spree in France Thursday morning, a prosecutor said.

Witnesses told Le Dauphine that a man began attacking the children while they were in a small playground in the Alpine town of Annecy. Two adults also were injured.

The suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian, was detained following the attack. The prosecutor did not have a motive.

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who was reportedly on her way to the scene, said the suspect has refugee status in Sweden.

The Minister of the Interior confirmed the arrest of a suspect in a tweet.

The attack happened mid-morning in a park near Lake Annecy in southeast France. There was a heavy police presence around the park through the day as evidence was collected.

Francois Astorg, the mayor of Annecy, called the attack appalling and tweeted:  “All my thoughts to the victims and families.”

Local lawmaker Antoine Armand called the attack “abominable” in a Twitter post.

Lawmakers in Paris stood for a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the attack.

The assembly president, Yaël Braun-Pivet, said: "There are some very young children who are in critical condition and I invite you to respect a minute of silence for them, for their families, and so that, we hope, the consequences of this very grave attack do not lead to the nation grieving.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.