The three victims were attacked at 7.50pm Wednesday evening at the reflecting pool on the banks of the Garonne River.

French channel BFM TV cited police sources as it reported that the incident is not thought to be terror-related.

Graphic videos circulating on social media from people at the scene showed the moment police gunned down the suspect, with users praising their efforts.

A perimeter was quickly erected by police, with one source saying the attack had “no terrorist connotation for the moment”, adding that it was likely “a brawl with an unknown motive”.

Pierre Hurmic, the Mayor of Bordeaux, said he would immediately attend the site of the attack and collect information for the local public prosecutor. 

He also confirmed that a judicial investigation into the incident was underway, with another local councillor and former mayor addressing the incident on X, formerly Twitter. 

City councillor and former Bordeaux mayor Nicolas Florian wrote: “Deeply shocked by this knife attack on one of the busiest places in #Bordeaux.

“I send all my support to the victims and witnesses of this tragedy. I salute the intervention of our law enforcement officers who shot the maniac down.”

One person reposting the videos from users on X, formerly known as Twitter, thanked police but said people should stop “looking away or filming” when they are in danger. 

They wrote: “Thank you @PoliceNationale for eliminating [the knifeman].

“It’s time to act, people [of France] And stop looking, looking away or filming, there are more of us than them!”

Paris St-Germain and Barcelona were preparing to face one other in the Champions League quarter-final in Paris earlier this evening.

Security is currently heightened across France, with police on high alert ahead of this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.