A man suspected of intentionally driving his car into a group of pedestrians and cyclists reportedly attempted to set the vehicle on fire. Police have apprehended the 35-year-old suspect after the incident on the French holiday island of Saint Pierre d´Oléron, where at least 10 people were injured, two of them in critical condition. Upon his arrest, the man allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar.” The car struck multiple individuals on a roadway connecting two villages on the island’s western side.
Law enforcement officers swiftly captured the suspect shortly after the alarming attack, using a Taser to subdue him as he resisted arrest. Reports indicate that the suspect was caught trying to ignite his car just minutes after the disturbing event. He was swiftly taken to the Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron police station, where it was discovered that the vehicle had only partially caught fire and contained gas canisters.
The arrested individual hails from a village situated a mere four kilometers away from the site of the attack. Mayor Christophe Sueur of Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron mentioned the suspect’s troubled history, citing issues related to drug and alcohol abuse. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the attempted murder incident.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez provided initial details on the case as an inquiry was launched. He stated, “This morning, a driver struck several pedestrians and cyclists in Saint Pierre d´Oléron and Dolus d’Oléron. Two victims are in critical condition, and three others sustained injuries. The perpetrator is in custody, and I will be visiting the location as per the Prime Minister’s instructions.”
Arnaud Laraize, the public prosecutor in La Rochelle, reported that the suspect had a history of substance abuse and psychiatric problems. While witnesses claimed to have heard the suspect uttering “Allahu Akbar,” Laraize clarified that the incident is not being treated as a terrorist act.
A local resident described the harrowing moment when the car plowed into pedestrians, recounting, “An individual in a vehicle is having fun hitting people in his path, and right here at my window, a pedestrian was hit and injured in Saint Pierre d’Oléron.” The Ile d’Oléron is a favored destination for British holidaymakers, being the second-largest island in France after Corsica, spanning 19 miles in length and 5 miles in width.
