The attacker, who was described as wielding a knife and shouting Allahu Akbar, was quickly detained after being shot by police.

Several other people were injured.

The French Anti Terrorist Prosecutors Department said it had been asked to investigate the attack.

Nieces Mayor Christian Estrosi said one of the victims was believed to be the warden at the Notredame Church and added they were killed in quote ah, horrible way way.

Estrosi added that the attack has similarities to the killing of Semi Patty, a French teacher beheaded earlier this month in a Paris suburb by a man of Chechen origin.

The attacker had said he wanted to punish Patty for showing pupils cartoons off the Prophet Mohammed in a civics lesson.

Meanwhile, the Misuse Samuel party since the teachers killing French officials and politicians backed by many ordinary citizens have reasserted the right to display the cartoons.