Two killed, four wounded after knife attack in France

Two people have been killed and at least four others wounded in a knife attack in south-east France, officials have said.

The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office told the Associated Press that the attack took place at around 11am. Prosecutors did not identify the attacker but said he had no documents and claimed to be a Sudanese national born in 1987.  Witnesses told Reuters the man struck at random and in several places while moving around the town centre.

Initial reports said the attacker entered a tobacconist in the town of Romans-sur-Isère, near Grenoble, and stabbed the owners and a customer. He then went to a nearby butcher’s shop and attacked more people.

Police said a suspect had been arrested. The motive for the attack is not clear. One of the wounded is said to be in a critical condition. France is currently in lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. People are only allowed out to buy basic necessities or for exercise.

The prosecutor’s office said it is evaluating whether the attack was motivated by terrorism but that it has not launched any formal proceedings to treat it as such.

Via BBC / France 24 / AFP / Reuters