Thousands gather to show solidarity with the victims of knife violence at the Alpine resort’s playground

Thousands of well-wishers gathered at the lake in Annecy to show their support for the victims of the small knife attack and pay tribute to the emergency services who had provided the young people’s emergency care.

Parents with children, elderly residents and holidaymakers gathered this morning at 11 am on the picturesque lakeside lawn near the historic city center for the ‘solidarity demonstration’.

The crown applauded the leaders of the city’s emergency service – police, civilian heroes, paramedics and helicopter pilots – who responded to the emergency within four minutes of the attack.

Among them were Pierre-Alexis Boccard and his two young daughters who often played in the ‘Pirate Playground’ park where deranged knife man Adbelmasih Hanoun stabbed four toddlers and an elderly man on Thursday morning.

Monsieur Boccard from Annecy explained that participating in the demonstration was important to help the victims and everyone in Annecy.

Pierre-Alexis Boccard (centre, with daughters), from Annecy, explained that participating in the demonstration was important to help the victims move on

Builder Jeton Zogan brought his seven-year-old twins Alban and Elvana to the park to show their support

He told MailOnline: ‘We are here today to show our support for the young victims of this horrific attack.

“My daughters often come to the playground and now that we are here today, we can move on and come back here as before.”

Builder Jeton Zogan brought his seven-year-old twins Alban and Elvana to the park to offer their support.

Monsieur Zogan from Annecy said: ‘My wife always takes the twins to the park. This is how we want to show our support for the poor children.

‘They have made drawings for the children to show them that we offer them our best wishes and to say ‘get well soon’.

“This is how we show our love and support to people when they are having a hard time.”

Mother Annelise Sarte (left) brought her daughters Alice, 14, and Thelma, 6, to lay flowers for the victims

One of the purposes of the service was to thank emergency services for their quick response to the knife man

Heavily armed members of the French paramilitary gendarmerie police and an elite mountain army regiment patrolled the area to prevent copycat attacks

Mother Annelise Sarte brought her daughters Alice, 14, and Thelma, 6, to lay flowers for the victims.

Madame Sarte explained: ‘We are from Annecy and we want to show our support for these poor young children.

‘We are here because it is important to show our solidarity with the young people – the French children, the English girl and the Dutch girl. We want to ‘say we are all with you’.

Meanwhile, heavily armed members of the French paramilitary gendarmerie police and an elite mountain army regiment patrolled the area.

The Saturday morning service concluded with a rousing rendition of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise

Floral tribute to victims of twisted knife man, Adbelmasih Hanoun, who stabbed four toddlers and an elderly man on Thursday morning

During the 25-minute service, Annecy Mayor François Astorg called the “backpack hero” Henri d’Anselme, who had chased the twisted knifeman Hanoun away from the children’s playground, armed only with his backpack.

The mayor condemned the “barbarism” of the “heartless attack” on the toddlers and spoke of the “pain suffered in France, Britain and the Netherlands.”

But he praised the thousands of well-wishers who had gathered at the scenic lake.

He said, “Thank you for your sincere support. For your brotherhood and solidarity with the families of the victims.’

Local singer Laure Pauthex delivered a haunting rendition of the popular French song ‘Talk To Me of Love’.

The service concludes with a rousing rendition of the French national anthem ‘La Marseillaise’.