STABBED IN THEIR PRAM

Brit child among six victims of blade coward | Brave mum shielded kid, attacker chased off | Locals tell of horror as refugee is arrested

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

WITNESSES last night described the horrific moment a knifeman went on the rampage in a busy French playground, indiscriminately stabbing defenceless children.

A British national said to be three was one of four youngsters injured in the attack that shattered the morning peace at a popular alpine retreat.

Two children, said to be a French brother and sister aged two and three, were left fighting for life along with a man in his 70s, one of two adults stabbed. The youngest victim is just 22 months, according to reports.

Video footage captured a brave woman leaping in front of a pushchair in a bid to protect a child as the bearded knifeman lunged at the innocent tot.

And a hero bystander could be seen using his backpack in a bid to fend off the cowardly attacker after chasing him from the playground at Annecy in southeast France, which is a tourist haven.

Parents could be heard screaming in terror amid the harrowing scenes.

The attacker, named as Syrian refugee Abdalmasih H, 31, was eventually overpowered and arrested by police who shot him in the leg.

One witness said: "The man was shouting in English and caused absolute panic when he started attacking the little ones. He wanted to hurt as many people as he could. He caused carnage.

"The young children were easy targets." Another added: "People were running crying, panicking, it was horrible." One witness told how the knifeman stabbed an elderly man in the neck.