France stabbing: Residents in Annecy left shaken after playground knife assault

“This kind of thing never happens here.”

That is what residents within the French metropolis of Annecy have stated repeatedly because the mindless and surprising wounding of 4 younger youngsters and two adults in a playground.

Of course, nobody expects such a violent assault – concentrating on the youngest and most susceptible – of their group. But this incident has left folks shaken.

I visited the playground a number of hours after the assault as locals have been gathering to put flowers – largely white roses – in tribute to the injured.

There I met Makram Attia, a supply man who was on the road subsequent to the park that surrounds the playground simply moments after the assault.

He witnessed the dramatic arrest of the suspect.

“I wasn’t thinking it could be an attack in a children’s park right here in Annecy, it’s impossible. I couldn’t know what was happening,” he stated.

“People were running everywhere. I asked myself what it could be.

“And after we have been knowledgeable that there had been an assault on previous folks and on youngsters, that is the second we actually freaked out.”

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Returning to the park later to put a rose on the wall of the playground, Mr Attia introduced with him his personal youngsters, Amine, 11, and Lilia, 9.

Both attend a faculty near the park.

Amine was in expertise class when he was advised one thing dangerous had occurred close by.

“We couldn’t leave before they caught the man,” he stated.

“Was it scary?” I requested.

“Yes. We all flipped out. The windows were opened and we listened to the police and the firemen,” he stated.

Mr Attia felt it was vital he introduced the youngsters right here following the tragedy.

“It’s a place we come by every weekend. It’s a place children come, in this very park to play often, every weekend in the summer.

“It’s horrible. I haven’t got any phrases to explain that – an assault in opposition to youngsters. It cannot be.”