The police chief of a small city in southern France has been stabbed to death, allegedly by a man who had threatened officials after being banned from owning a dangerous dog.

Pascale Filoe, reportedly in his 50s and a father of three, was stabbed three times at around 10am on Thursday and died in hospital from his injuries several hours later.

Police arrested a man, reported to be 39, who witnesses said was chased from the scene of the attack outside the city hall by a worker and took refuge in a shop.

Image: Mr Filoe was attacked outside Rodez city hall

"The attacker was known to police. He had defaced the city hall door on 11 April," said the mayor of Rodez, Christian Teyssedre.

Local media reported the suspect allegedly acted out of vengeance days after his unregistered pitbull was confiscated due to a prior conviction and had apparently threatened officials.


Mr Filoe was the deputy director general of services at the city hall and therefore in charge of the police in Rodez, Aveyron.

Image: A man, 39, was arrested after fleeing the scene of the attack in southern France

Interior minister Gerard Collomb tweeted: "I share the pain of the inhabitants of Rodez after this appalling attack. My first thoughts go to the family and dearest.

"Support to his shocked colleagues and national police officers who immediately arrested the individual."

Patricia Miralles, a member of the national assembly, tweeted a picture of Mr Filoe, and said he had "lost his life in intolerable circumstances in the course of his duties".

Police have appealed for witnesses. No one else has been arrested.