French 'backpack hero' says his faith gave him strength to fight knifeman

Tributes left near the scene at a lakeside park in Annecy, France, following a knife attack where four children and two adults wounded town of Annecy on Thursday.

A modern-day pilgrim on a walking tour of France's cathedrals told journalists on Friday his Catholic faith gave him the strength to fight a man who stabbed four children in a park in Annecy.

Dubbed "the backpack hero" - "le héros au sac a dos" - by media, the 24-year-old who only gave his name as Henri said he was near a playground when he saw the man attacking children in a stroller as their mother tried to shield them on Thursday.