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A couple shouting "Allahu Akbar" have attacked a charity boss armed with an axe and knife near Paris in France.

French police are investigating reports the 59-year-old director of the Restos du Coeur soup kitchen in Montreuil, east of Paris, was attacked at around 7.20am earlier this morning.

The attackers allegedly called him an "infidel dog" - and both are now being hunted after fleeing from the scene.

The couple are said to have suddenly appeared on the soup kitchen premises and 'for no apparent reason' the male attacker - described as being of African origin - swung at him with the axe which the victim managed to dodge.

The woman - said to be wearing a veil with an open face - then dealt him "several stab wounds" to the stomach.

(Image: Getty)

A police source confirmed the victim was allegedly stabbed by a couple carrying an axe and a knife and also shouting 'God is Greatest' in Arabic.

The alleged victim was hit in the chest and stomach and sent to hospital - where he reportedly arrived unconscious.

Several unconfirmed reports state he was stabbed three times in the chest.

A weapon - understood to be the axe - has been recovered from the scene of the alleged attack by investigators.

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It is not immediately clear how serious the victim's injuries were - although they are understood to not be life-threatening - or where the couple are now.

No further details of the assailants have yet been released.

In a sign that French officials for now doubt terrorism as a motive, the investigation is being carried out by a regular prosecutor's office and criminal police rather than dedicated

anti-terrorism units.

France has been beset by several high profile attacks claimed by Islamist militants over the 18 months.

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In June, a Frenchman who pledged allegiance to Islamic State stabbed a police commander to death outside his home and also killed his partner.



The country - currently hosting the Euro 2016 football tournament - has been under a state of emergency since Islamic State gunmen and bombers killed 130 people in Paris last November.

One of the getaway cars used by the Paris attacks was found abandoned in Montreuil loaded with AK-47s.

Montreuil is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris where at least 10% of the population is from northern Africa.