French butcher on rampage knifes six

A butcher has slashed six people, including two children, with his knife after going on the rampage in a village in south-western France.

Michel Perroy, in his late 40s, attacked people in Salleboeuf, near Bordeaux, apparently at random, as he ran shouting through the streets.

It's the end of the world, we're all going to die

Butcher Michel Perroy

The village policeman and two passers-by, one of them himself a victim of the frenzy, managed to control the butcher.

Most of the injured were slashed across the face, although one was also knifed in the chest. None are in critical condition.

The attacks began at about 0900 (0700GMT) on Friday, when Mr Perroy rushed into the bakery next to his butcher's shop, "extremely agitated" according to one eyewitness.

He slashed the baker and his daughter-in-law in the face, before running through the village brandishing his knife.

"It's the end of the world, we're all going to die," he screamed.

He knifed four more people - including his five-year-old grandson - before being wrestled down.

"He was on the ground, covered in blood, saying 'The Jehovah's Witnesses have said it's the end of the world'," said one bystander.

Incomprehensible

Mr Perroy had moved to the village a decade ago, and was widely popular.

"I don't understand it - he was always ready to lend a hand, a truly good man," said one villager, Michele Dugarry, who had noticed nothing unusual when the butcher came into her cafe about an hour before the attack.

However, Ms Dugarry added that he had said he spoken about getting rid of some Jehovah's Witnesses who had called on him.

Mr Perroy is now being held by the police on suspicion of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

He has not spoken since his arrest.

"We can suppose that this is a man who lost his senses, but that remains to be verified," said Gendarmerie Commander Franck Neollier.