French boy of 7 dies after street stabbing in Joeuf

At the weekend hundreds of residents, led by Lucas's brother, marched through Joeuf

A child who was repeatedly stabbed as he walked home from school has died in hospital in eastern France.

Lucas, 7, was put into a coma after last Thursday's attack in Joeuf - by a man with psychiatric problems - but he died of his wounds, prosecutors said.

His attacker, aged 30, had a previous conviction for violence but was not considered dangerous and had not received specialist care, reports said.

Residents staged a march in support of the family at the weekend.

Joeuf, a small town of 6,700 people north-east of the city of Metz, was plunged into mourning after the attack.

Mayor Andre Corzani said everything would be done to help the family in the wake of Lucas' death.

The man arrested after the attack had initially fled the scene after he was tackled by an off-duty policeman, but later handed himself in to local police. He was formally placed under investigation the following day.

He was described as suffering from psychiatric troubles, although experts said his judgement was not completely impaired.

Prosecutors said Lucas's attacker suffered from psychiatric disorders that impaired his judgement, but not completely