Paris, Oct 29 (TIWN) At least three people were stabbed to death on Thursday in the French city of Nice, with the Mayor saying that the incident pointed to a "terrorist attack at the heart of the Notre-Dame basilica".

President Emmanuel Macron is on his way to the scene. France's national anti-terror prosecutors have opened a murder inquiry.  Mr Estrosi compared the attack to the recent murder of teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded close to his school outside Paris earlier this month.  Police have not suggested a motive for the attack in Nice. However, it follows days of protests in some Muslim-majority countries triggered by President Macron's defence of French cartoons that depict the Prophet Mohammed. There have been calls in some countries for a boycott of French goods.  Meanwhile, two further attacks took place on Thursday morning, one in France and one in Saudi Arabia.  A man was shot dead in Montfavet near Avignon after threatening police with a handgun. And a guard was attacked outside the French consulate in Jeddah. A suspect was arrested and the guard taken to hospital.