7 injured in knife attack in downtown Paris

At least seven people have been injured in Paris after a man attacked people with a knife and an iron bar, local media reports.

Initially, the attacker armed with a knife and an iron bar wounded three people ( two men and a woman), in front of a cinema in the 19th arrondissement. A group of men playing the petanque tried to stop him by throwing a heavy iron ball used in the popular French game, according to Le Parisien.

After running away from the initial scene of the attack, the assailant continued on Rue Henri Nogueres, where he attacked two English tourists, injuring them in the chest and the head.

The aggressor, who was also injured, was finally arrested by the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC) of the police. The suspect is believed to be an Afghani national, local media report.

In total at least seven people were injured by the individual, four of whom are in serious condition, according to a judicial source.

While authorities have yet to establish the motive behind the attack, an investigation has been launched into attempted homicide. A source close to the investigation told Le Parisien that so far there was no indication that the incident was a terrorist attack.