Two Brits injured in Paris knife attack

Two British tourists were among seven people stabbed by a man outside a cinema in Paris with preliminary investigations suggesting the incident was not terrorism-related.

The man, believed to be from Afghanistan, began the attack at around 11pm on Sunday (local time) in the city's 19th district before he was detained by French police.

A group of people playing bowling game petanque also intervened and chased the man while throwing the heavy petanque balls at him, witnesses say.

As the man ran away he then attacked more people, including two British tourists before police managed to arrest him. He was also armed with an iron bar.

"We are urgently investigating this incident and are in close contact with the French authorities," the British Foreign Office said in a statement.