TWO British tourists were stabbed in the head and chest by a rampaging knifeman who injured seven people in Paris on Sunday night.

The 31-year-old attacker was using child identity documents issued to an Afghan minor, according to claims made by an investigating source.

13 Evidence is seen on the pavement after seven people were injured in a knife attack in downtown Paris, France Credit: Reuters

He was described as being of Pakistani or Afghan origin, and began "slashing passers-by" on the Loire Quay in the north of the city, according to reports.

Armed with a 15-inch blade and a metal bar, he first stabbed two men and a woman outside the MK2 cinema complex.

He then proceeded to a nearby street, where he attacked two British tourists, according to investigators.

One was particularly badly hurt after being "stabbed in the head", while the other was "cut in the chest".

Petanque players who saw what happened then tried to intervene, throwing metal balls at the attacker.

13 Police were seen examining the scene where the suspected knifeman unleashed his attack Credit: AFP or licensors

13 Police are hunting clues, saying the motive of the man is not yet known Credit: AFP or licensors

Officials said they do not believe the attack was linked to terrorism, but it followed a series of attacks in the city that were claimed by ISIS.

The area is reportedly well known for its immigrant communities, many of them Afghan, some sleeping rough as they try to get to the UK to claim asylum.

Some are minors travelling alone, although adults have reportedly been known to pose as children in the hope of getting priority treatment by authorities.

A witness said: "He was challenged by a group of petanque players who threw their metal balls at him.

13 The whole area was cordoned off Credit: Reuters

"At least four of the balls hit him in the head, but they did not stop him carrying on with his rampage.

"It was then that the man cornered the two English tourists, who were unaware that he was carrying a knife."

Both were stabbed with the 15-inch blade before a plain-clothes police officer intervened, and then a night patrol helped him arrest the man.

13 Police investigators work on the scene of the bloody rampage on Sunday night Credit: Reuters

13

An investigating source said the suspect was conscious in hospital but had not not spoken since the attack.

The attacker was reportedly previously known to police.

The source said both Brits were still in hospital.

Four of those injured were reported to have sustained serious injuries, and one remained critical.

13 The attack reportedly began at the MK2 cinema complex Credit: AP:Associated Press

13 French police is investigating on the scene where a man attacked and injured people in the streets of Paris in the 19th arrondissement Credit: AFP or licensors

All those injured were in the Lariboisiere, Percy and Foch hospitals, which are situated around Paris and the city suburbs.

A security guard told French media: "He had an iron bar in his hand which he threw at the men chasing him, then he took out a knife."

An attempted murder case has been launched by judicial police, with Paris prosecutors opening an official enquiry, according to Le Parisien.

A Foreign Affairs spokesperson reportedly confirmed to the french paper that two Brits were among those injured in the attack.

13 Seven people including two British tourists were wounded Credit: AFP or licensors

The attacker is not thought to have been badly injured by officers in the arrest.

The UK Foreign Office said: "We are urgently investigating this incident and are in close contact with the French authorities.

Paris is no stranger to knife attacks."

In August a man with "psychiatric problems" stabbed his own mother and sister to death in the city.

13 French police mark evidence at the scene of the knife attack Credit: AFP or licensors

13 Three people were stabbed at MK2 Cinema according to reports Credit: Twitter

13 The scene has been cordoned off by police Credit: AP:Associated Press

13 Police investigators work on the scene after seven people were stabbed Credit: Reuters

Police at scene and man arrested after knife attack in Paris wounds seven

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Police shot Kamel Salhi dead, and said the incident was not terrorism related, despite ISIS attempting to claim responsibility.

An Egyptian national on a tourist visa was shot by soldiers at the Paris Louvre museum after rushing a patrol with a machete in February 2017.

He too was linked to Isis, and remains in custody.

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