A British child is among four children and two adults injured in the town of Annecy in the French Alps, after a knifeman went on a rampage in a playground, the foreign secretary has confirmed.
At least two of the children, both aged about three, are in a critical condition in hospital, while an adult also suffered life-threatening injuries, French national police said.
The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, who was speaking at an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministerial council press conference in France, called the attacks a "terrible act of violence" and said the British government was ready to support the French authorities in whatever way possible.
"We are also aware that one of the people, one of the children injured, was a British national," he said. "We have already deployed British consular officials who are travelling to the area to make themselves available to support the family. And of course we stand in strong solidarity with the people of France at this terrible time."
Witnesses described the suspected knifeman running around in a frenzy, apparently attacking at random, before he was stopped by police near the banks of Lake Annecy.
The French prosecutor leading an investigation into the attack said the four children injured were aged between 22 months and three years, and that two adults were also injured.
According to reports, the attack happened at about 9.45am, when a man armed with a knife entered a children's playground close to Lake Annecy. Video footage showed him prowling the play area and attacking a group of small children - including one in a pushchair - as they played. A video showed a man being chased in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
The former Liverpool footballer Anthony Le Tallec, who has also played for FC Annecy, witnessed aspects of the attack. He described seeing dozens of people running towards him, a mother shouting: "Run, someone is stabbing everyone, he's stabbing children!"
The prosecutor said the suspect was a 31-year-old Syrian, who had been detained by police. His motives were as yet unknown but did not appear to be terrorism-related, said the prosecutor.
The French prime minister, Élisabeth Borne, said the man had refugee status in Sweden. BFM television in France reported that he separated from his Swedish wife eight months ago, and that she said she had not heard from him for four months.
The British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said his thoughts were with everyone affected by the attack.
"My thoughts are with all of those affected by the shocking attack in Annecy this morning. As @EmmanuelMacron has said, it was a truly cowardly act. The UK and France have always stood together against acts of violence, and we do so again today."