Blog

Jan 30, 2024

Video shows Syrian refugee stabbing kids in French play park

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. Warning: Graphic

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Warning: Graphic Content

Chilling video footage caught a Syrian refugee repeatedly stabbing screaming adults and kids in a French playground Thursday — including at least one toddler in a stroller.

A 90-second clip shared online shows the man repeatedly running at people in the picturesque Alpine town of Annecy, injuring at least six people, including four kids under age 5 left fighting for their lives.

Police later blamed a 31-year-old Syrian national with legal refugee status in France for the attack that President Emmanuel Macron called "an act of absolute cowardice."

The footage starts with the black-clad suspect rushing out of the play area of Le Paquiet Park as heart-wrenching screams fill the air.

"Jesus Christ!" a male voice yells in English, as the bearded suspect — in shorts and a blue headscarf — seems to calmly play with a chain around his neck while brandishing his knife.

One woman tries to push two young kids in a double stroller as the stabber runs in circles nearby — then attacks a nearby man who heroically tries to tackle him by swinging a bag.

As that good Samaritan follows, yelling for the police, the attacker darts back into the play area, leaping over a small wall — and running straight at the screaming woman pushing the double stroller.

She also tries to tackle him — screaming "Get away!" in English as she stands between him and the stroller.

As others tentatively try to intervene, the crazed attacker circles back around past the stroller at least two more times — leaning over the stroller and stabbing downward repeatedly, with at least one young child heard wailing in terror.

"Police! Police!" someone yells as the man with the bags continues trying to intervene.

The clip ends with the attacker leaving the play area and heading toward a grass field.

Other footage showed the man with the bag still chasing after the suspect, who was eventually overpowered and busted by cops.

Lead prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis later said four children — between 22 months and 3 years — suffered life-threatening wounds.

Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up! Never miss a story.

Two adults also were injured.

None of the victims were immediately identified, but at least two of the kids were tourists, including a British national, authorities said.

Witnesses also confirmed that at least one of those stabbed had been in a stroller.

"He jumped (in the playground), started shouting, and then went towards the strollers, repeatedly hitting the little ones with a knife," a witness who gave his name as Ferdinand told BFM TV.

"He wanted to attack everyone," former professional soccer player Anthony Le Tallec, who was running in the park, told Dauphine Libere.

"I moved away and he lunged at an old man and woman and stabbed the old man."

Another witness, named Malo, told BFM that the attacker had been "shouting, but it wasn't really comprehensible."

An ice cream seller who works in the waterside park also said he’d seen the attacker there several days earlier.

Bonnet-Mathis, the lead prosecutor, said the motive remains unknown — but stressed it does not appear to be terrorism-related.

The attacker was only identified as a 31-year-old Syrian national who was first granted refugee status in Sweden.

He entered France legally and was not known to security agencies, police said.

In Paris, lawmakers interrupted a debate to hold a moment of silence for the victims.

"The nation is in shock," Macron tweeted.

With Post wires