Two French soldiers were injured in a knife attack outside a Jewish community center in the southern city of Nice on Tuesday, government officials confirmed Tuesday evening.

Two French soldiers were injured in a knife attack outside a Jewish community center in the southern city of Nice on Tuesday, government officials confirmed Tuesday evening.

One soldier who was on patrol near the center was attacked by a man with a knife and was wounded in the face. Two other soldiers patrolling the zone intervened and one of them was also hurt and suffered slight injuries to the arm, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a joint statement.

The attacker was arrested by French police after reinforcements have been deployed in the area, they added.

"The person responsible, who is in his thirties and from the Paris region, is known to police," Cazeneuve said, without elaborating further details.

An investigation is underway to determine the causes of "this criminal attack," according to the statement.

After deadly attacks killing 17 victims last month, France increased vigilance and has poured about 10,000 servicemen into its cities to protect sensitive locations, especially Jewish communities and facilities.