Ile d’Oléron,France – A driver intentionally struck pedestrians and cyclists on the French island of Ile d’Oléron this morning,critically injuring four people and harming six others,authorities said. The incident unfolded across multiple locations on the island before the suspect was apprehended.
The 35-year-old local man drove through the villages of Dolus d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, hitting numerous individuals, including a young girl, according to Dolus d’Oléron Mayor Thibault Brechkoff. He ultimately abandoned his vehicle and attempted to ignite it before fleeing the scene, Brechkoff added. police subdued the suspect with a stun gun and took him into custody.
“He drove some distance… mowing down several people,” Brechkoff stated.
During his arrest, the suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”), according to La Rochelle public prosecutor Arnaud Laraize. The man is currently being held on suspicion of attempted murder. While known to police,French anti-terror authorities have not yet taken over the examination.
A gas canister was discovered in the suspect’s car after he tried to set it ablaze, local reports indicate. The incident began around 08:45 (07:45 GMT).
Ile d’Oléron, France’s second-largest island after Corsica, is a popular tourist destination connected to the mainland by a road bridge.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has announced an inquiry into the incident and is traveling to the scene.
