Two days after a Muslim religious fanatic attacked a family in Toulouse,  moments ago two women were among the people injured after a hammer-wielding man assaulted them while screaming "Allahu Akbar" in Chalon-sur-Saone, near Lyon, France, according to media reports. The attacker, wearing all black, is reportedly still on the run.

The town of Chalon-sur-Saône, in eastern France

The first victim was attacked at noon, and the other some 15 minutes later at a nearby location, Le Journal reports. 

And, as has so very often been the case in recent weeks, according to a source close to the investigation, preliminary indications are that "the act was carried out by a mentally unstable person," Le Journal reported. It was unclear if the "mentally unstable person" also had any affiliation to a terrorist organization.

Following the attack, the Police force launched a vast search for the assailant, including a low-flying helicopter.

Intervention en cours à @Chalon_officiel @saoneetloire pic.twitter.com/yWD9nmNc33

— Préfet Saône&Loire (@Prefet71) September 15, 2017

Two women are reportedly in critical condition after the assault in Chalon-sur-Saône, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté around lunchtime today. One of the two women is believed to have been hit in the back of the head.

This comes as a knife wielding man attacked a French soldier outside a Metro station in Paris today while praising Allah. The attack in Paris took place att Chatelet metro station at 6.30am this morning, and saw an unnamed assailant attack a soldier with a knife.

The victim managed to wrestle him to the ground and he was arrested by armed police as he shouted ISIS slogans.

The unidentified man is said to have rushed at a patrol of soldiers wearing combat uniforms and brandishing assault rifles. 'He was restrained, and nobody was injured,' said a source investigating the case on Friday morning. The man was taken to the main Chatelet police station, and now faces a range of terrorist charges.

It is the latest in a long string of attacks on service personnel involved in Operation Sentinelle - an initiative involving 10,000 soldiers and 4700 gendarmes and police.

The attacks come on the same day as an improvised explosive device blew up on a London subway car, injuring at least 22.