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An eight-year-old girl is fighting for her life after a mum and her three daughters were reportedly stabbed in a French holiday resort for being 'scantily dressed'.

The French family are said to have been targeted while holidaying in Garda-Colombe in the Hautes-Alpes near Montpellier in southern France.

The 46-year-old woman and the girls - aged eight, 12 and 14 - were all attacked before the knifeman fled the scene - according to police.

The eight-year-old was airlifted to hospital in nearby Grenoble with a punctured lung and is in a critical condition.

The 37-year-old man has been identified by French media as Mohamed Boufarkouch, who was born in Morocco.

He is reportedly unknown to the police and gendarmerie.

He was arrested following the incident at around 10am local time (9am UK time) this morning and is still in custody on suspicion of attempted homicide, reports Le Dauphine.

(Image: booking.com)

Police say the motive for the attack remains 'vague' but local media reports state the attacker had made references to the females being 'too lightly dressed'.

Eye-witnesses said the mum and her daughters had been having breakfast when they were attacked.

Local prosecutor Raphael Balland told the AFP news agency: "The motive of the attack is very blurred."

(Image: booking.com)

The 37-year-old man remains in custody following the incident at the VVF Villages Lagrand resort near Laragne in southern France.

The suspect and the victims are all believed to have been on holiday at the resort.

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.