ISIS have claimed responsibility for a terror attack which saw a man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' stab two women to death with a butcher's knife in Marseille.

The victims, aged 17 and 20, suffered horrific injuries during the 'frenzied' attack, with one slashed in the throat and the other stabbed in the chest and stomach.

Eyewitnesses told how a man 'dressed in black' launched himself at the two women, who screamed for their lives as others ran for safety.

The assailant was gunned down by soldiers who were on patrol inside Saint Charles train station at the time as part of France's ongoing state of emergency.

The suspect, thought to be aged 25 to 30, was known to authorities for common law crimes while analysis of his fingerprints came up with several aliases.

Anti-terror officials said they were investigating 'links to a terrorist organisation' and the 'attempted killing of a public official', the identity of which is currently unknown.

Photographs from the scene showed a woman lying on the ground and armed police standing over the attacker. A white sheet was later placed over his body.

The body of the attacker is photographed by forensic personnel shortly after he was gunned down outside Saint Charles station

Armed police stand over a man on the ground - it was not immediately clear whether that was the attacker or another man being arrested

After the stabbings in Marseille, anti-terror prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into 'killings linked to a terrorist organisation' and the 'attempted killing of a public official'

The assailant was gunned down by soldiers who were on patrol inside Saint Charles train station at the time as part of France's ongoing state of emergency

The suspect, thought to be aged 25 to 30, was known to authorities for common law crimes while analysis of his fingerprints came up with several aliases

A body lies under a white sheet outside Marseille's main train station after a man with a butcher's knife attacked two women at the station

In a tweet, President Emmanuel Macron said: 'Deeply outraged by this barbaric act, in pain with the families and relatives of the victims of Marseille.

'I hail the Operation Sentinelle soldiers and the police forces who reacted with extreme calmness and efficiency.'

Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said he believed the incident to be a 'terrorist attack', while interior minister Gérard Collomb said it 'could be' related to terror.

British nationals in Marseille are being urged to take care after a knifeman killed two women at the city's main railway station.

A police source added: ['The stabbings were] frenzied and took place in front of lots of witnesses. The man first shouted threats, and then launched into the two women.

'The two were killed by a knife, and then soldiers on anti-terrorism duties intervened. They shot the man dead.'

The assailant was shot dead by soldiers who were patrolling the station as part of France's state of emergency

The body of one of the women killed in the attack is covered (in gold) as forensics begin the investigation into what happened

Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said he believed the incident to be a 'terrorist attack', while interior minister Gérard Collomb said it 'could be' related to terror

Two women were stabbed to death and their assailant shot dead by soldiers in Marseille

French police search the body of the assailant shortly after he was gunned down outside the busy station

He added that the suspect shouted Allahu Akbar – Arab for 'God is the Greatest' – during the attack.

He was estimated to be aged between 25 to 30 years and no had no identification papers on him.

The soldiers were part of Operation Sentinel, a wide ranging security operation involving armed patrols dispersed all over France.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: 'Following an incident at Marseille St Charles train station we are advising British nationals in the vicinity to take care and follow the advice of the local security authorities.'

It is thought to be the latest in a long series of Islamic State atrocities across France and the rest of Europe.

French security services are pictured guarding the Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles after today's deadly attack, which left two women dead, including one with a 'slit neck'

A knife man shouting Allahu akbar stabbed two female passengers to death before being killed by the French army at Marseille's train station (pictured) today

Local prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said the assault took place just before 2pm.

As they dealt with the attackers, hundreds of rail passengers fled in panic, and there were fears that there might be a dangerous stampede.

'There was screaming and shouting, and people were running everywhere,' said one witness. 'People were picking up children, and trying to help those who weren't very good on their feet. They just wanted to get away.'

Another female witness called Hajar told FranceInfo: 'I heard two shots, that was what triggered the panic. People came out of a waiting room shouting 'Run! Don't stay in the station. Everybody outside.'

'I had just got to the station when everyone started running. People sitting on the terrace of a fast food restaurant came inside and shouted 'Run, get out! Then I saw a woman on the floor, they were giving her CPR.'

One witness told local media he had just arrived at the station (pictured) when he heard two shots being fired

The witness, named as Hajar, told FranceInfo: 'People came out of the waiting room shouting 'Run! Don't stay in the station! Everybody outside'

Armed police officers and soldiers swarmed Gare de Marseille Saint Charles (pictured) after the attack early this afternoon

French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb has announced he is travelling to Marseille in wake of the attack to liaise with anti-terror police chiefs.

A spokesman for Mr Collomb's department said: 'Anti-terrorist prosecutors have opened an enquiry, and the terrorist theory is privileged.'

France remains under a state of emergency following a series of attacks by Islamist radicals linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.

Passengers are pictured waiting outside Marseille's busiest train station, Gare de Marseille Saint Charles, after this afternoon's attack

The attack took place at the Gare de Marseille Saint Charles (pictured) this afternoon

Marine Le Pen tweeted after the incident: 'All my solidarity with Marseille. Terrorism is an act of war against our country: we must fight it as such!'

Earlier this month, four American college students were attacked with acid at the same train station in Marseille.

At the time, French authorities said the assailant was suffering from a mental illness.