Man shot dead after attacking passers by with a knife at a railway station in Marseille, France

Two people have been stabbed to death by a knifeman near a railway station in Marseille, France.

Patrolling soldiers then shot the attacker dead, according to police.

Reuters news agency cited police sources as reporting that the man shouted "Allahu Akbar", or "God is great" in Arabic during the attack.

French interior minister Gérard Collomb announced on Twitter that he will visit the site immediately.