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The man, believed to be in his 40s, assulted members of the public before throwing kicks and punches at police officers who tried to restrain him.

He is alleged to have shouted "Allahu Akbar" – Arabic for "God is great" – during the attack in the the Minimes district of Toulouse, according to news website France Info.

Three offficers were injured while attempting to detain the man, who is in custody, at around 4.45pm local time (3.45pm BST).

Four people were hurt in the attack, two of whom were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

An eyewitness at the scene told local media: "We were chatting and he jumped on us. He first caught my son and then beat my daughter. We ran."

(Image: DS)

(Image: TWITTER)

The man, who was not armed, is thought to be suffering from mental issues, police sources told France Info.

Once detained the man, who is well-known to authorties, is said to have burst into tears, French news site La Depeche reports.

He was staying at a psychiatric hospital before being released in April this year, the website reports.

(Image: TWITTER) (Image: TWITTER)

The officers who detained the man acted "professionally and coolly" in a "delicate situation", police told local media.

France is on high alert after a spate of mass casualty terror attacks across the country in recent years.

The deadliest attack was in November 2015, when ISIS terrorists killed 130 people in multiple shooting and grenade attacks in the French capital of Paris.