Driver Shouts ‘Allahu Akbar’ After Deliberately Hitting 10 Pedestrians in France
A man intentionally drove into a group of ten people during a violent incident on Wednesday morning in western France, critically injuring four individuals.
Details of the Attack
The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. in the villages of Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron on Île d’Oléron, an island off France’s west coast, as reported by Le Parisien. The driver, a French nationalist in his thirties with a history of minor offenses, rammed his car into a crowd of pedestrians and cyclists.
Victims and Emergency Response
Among the ten victims, two remain in critical condition and were airlifted to the University Hospital of Poitiers. The victims’ ages ranged from 22 to 67 years old.
Driver’s Arrest and Statements
The driver was apprehended near the crash site while trying to set his vehicle on fire. During the arrest, he shouted “Allahu Akbar”, according to the local prosecutor’s office cited by the news outlet.
“Multiple accidents occurred in Saint Pierre and Dolus,” Dolus-d’Oléron Mayor Thibault Brechkoff stated on Facebook. “They were caused by someone deliberately causing these accidents.”
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause and motive of the attack, including whether the driver had psychiatric issues or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Author’s summary: A mentally troubled driver carried out a deliberate attack in western France, critically injuring four pedestrians, prompting a criminal investigation into his motives and mental state.