A former Liverpool football player described witnessing the mass stabbing in France in which several pre-school children were hurt.
Anthony Le Tallec posted a video on Instagram in which he said he was running by a lake in Annecy when people ran towards him and urged him to flee.
A man armed with a knife reportedly attacked the group at 9.45am local time as children were playing in a park near the lake in the town, which is in the French Alps.
Several children, some in pushchairs and thought to be about three years old, were injured in the attack.
In the video, Le Tallec says the suspect suddenly appeared in front of him and was being chased by police officers.
"He came near me, so I moved, I moved away," said the 38-year-old, who was wearing a Liverpool shirt.
"I see him go to towards a grandma and a grandpa, and he attacked the grandpa, I said to the cops: 'Shoot him! Kill him!'
"He attacked once, twice and then they started to shoot him."
Le Tallec said he carried on running along the lake but then spotted the injured children.
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s crazy to have this in Annecy," he said.
He later told the local Dauphine Libere newspaper: "He wanted to attack everyone. I moved away and he lunged at an old man and woman and stabbed the old man."
Witnesses said at least one child involved in the attack was in a pushchair and some appeared to be very young.
The suspect was a Syrian citizen in his 30s with legal refugee status in France, a police official told Reuters and AFP.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that the knife attack was an act of "absolute cowardice".
"Children and one adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock," Mr Macron said.
The children were reportedly on a school trip.
Reports on the number of victims vary, but according to the latest statement, five people were injured – four children and an adult.
Police said two of the children are in a life-threatening condition, while one adult suffered life-threatening wounds. The other two children were "slightly hurt", they said.
BFM TV showed footage of several policemen overpowering an individual in a park.
The motive is unclear and the alleged attacker is not known to the security services, according to a person involved in the investigation.
In Paris, politicians interrupted a debate to observe a moment of silence for the injured.
Le Tallec moved from French club Le Havre to Liverpool in 2001 and played for FC Annecy before retiring from the game in 2021.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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