The French government has decided to deploy up to 300 soldiers and increase police patrols in public areas, Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced, after three seemingly unrelated attacks left around 20 people injured.
Mr Valls told Europe 1 radio there was "no link" between the attackers and that the police were dealing with individuals who acted alone.
“The number of patrols will be increased during this period. Between 200 and 300 soldiers will be deployed in the coming hours,” Valls said.
“Patrols by police and gendarmes will concentrate on areas where there are a lot of people: shopping areas, city and town centres, stations and transport networks.”
One of the incidents, in which three police officers were stabbed in Tours, is being investigated by anti-terror police, however the other two attacks are not thought to be linked to terrorism by the French government.
"I wouldn't say it was a terrorist attack. I would call it a deliberate act," French interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet described the attack in Nates, which left ten people injured, adding that an investigation was underway.
French officials have said the motive behind the attacks were unclear, with another attacker described as “unbalanced” and reported to have a history of mental illness.