The numbers involved in France’s largest child abuse trial are staggering: 299 alleged victims, sexually abused in 10 hospitals and clinics over 25 years - all by one doctor, prosecutors say.

A former surgeon accused of raping or sexually assaulting hundreds of young patients, some while they were under anaesthetic, went on trial on Monday in France's largest ever child sexual abuse case.

A former surgeon is set to stand trial in France on Monday for the alleged rape or sexual abuse of 299 victims, most of them children who were his patients, in what investigators and his own notebooks describe as a pattern of violence spanning over three decades.

One person has died and several are wounded following a knife attack at a town market in eastern France, in what French authorities have described as an act of terror.

As he began his attack, the 37-year-old was heard shouting, “Allahu akbar,” according to France’s antiterrorism police. The Arabic phrase, meaning “God is great,” is an everyday expression used in religious and nonreligious settings alike, but has also become a war cry in some terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists.

One person has been killed and five police officers injured in a knife attack in the eastern French city of Mulhouse. A 37-year-old Algerian man was arrested at the scene and the prosecutor has opened a terrorist inquiry because the suspect reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar", or "God is great".

France have made seven changes to their side as fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and wing Damian Penaud have been dropped with Thomas Ramos moving to number 10. Leo Barre and Theo Attissogbe come into the back three alongside Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the tournament's top try-scorer with four.

France captain Antoine Dupont led his side to a 73-24 rout of hosts Italy as they ran in 11 tries in an action-packed Six Nations triumph on Sunday, bouncing back in style from their one-point loss to England in their last game a fortnight ago.

Italy host France as Six Nations third-round weekend draws to an exciting close in Rome today. Les Bleus make the trip to the Stadio Olimpico desperate to bounce back quickly from their shock last-gasp defeat by England at Twickenham a fortnight ago that scuppered their latest Grand Slam hopes and made Ireland strong favourites to win a historic and unprecedented third successive title.