Crowds in Annecy honour those who risked their lives to tackle attacker

Town’s mayor praised ‘courage and professionalism’ of those who fought the assailant, as people lay flowers

Hundreds of residents have gathered in Annecy to honour those who risked their lives trying to tackle a man accused of stabbing four toddlers and two adults at a playground in the south-eastern French city last week.

As people laid flowers in the same park where Thursday’s attack took place, Annecy’s mayor, François Astorg, praised the “courage and professionalism” of those who had fought the assailant and described Sunday’s gathering as “a strong sign of unity and solidarity”.