Car ploughs into pedestrians on French holiday island injuring 10 in ‘35 minute rampage’
The 35-year-old suspect reportedly attempted to set fire to his car in Ile d’Oleron, with a number of gas cylinders inside
Two people have been left in a critical condition after several people were struck by a car in a “35-minute rampage” on the French holiday island of Ile d’Oleron.
The suspected driver, a 35-year-old man who was known for multiple past offenses, was arrested after being tasered by police who launched an attempted murder investigation.
He had attempted to set fire to his vehicle which contained a number of gas cylinders, with images from the scene showing forensic officers scouring a charred white car.
The suspect “deliberately struck a number of people on bicycles or on foot” and “five people were hit during a 35-minute rampage”, interior minister Laurent Nunez said. Earlier reports indicated that 10 people were injured in total.
Among the injured is the parliamentary assistant of National Rally MP Pascal Markowsky, who remains in a critical condition, with the rest of the victims reported to be aged between 22 and 67.
The incident has sparked outcry from far-right and right-wing politicians, who laid blame for the incident on “Islamism” after the local public prosecutor said the driver had shouted “Allahu Akbar” while ploughing into the pedestrians.
However, motive has not been established and the incident is not currently being dealt with as terror.
“At the time of his arrest, [the man] shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’,” La Rochelle public prosecutor Arnaud Laraize said. “However, the motive is not confirmed and the investigation will have to determine it.”
National Rally MP Sébastien Chenu took to the National Assembly to declare that the “Islamist threat has never been stronger”. He added: “This is a war that must be waged here and now. Our country has already paid a heavy price to Islamism.”
The comments come despite earlier confirmation from Mr Laraize that the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office is “not involved at this stage”.
The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has since said it is “monitoring proceedings” and has sent a magistrate to the scene to observe the investigation. Discussions are reportedly underway over whether to officially involve them in the investigation.
The suspect is not believed to be on the French authorities’ list for the prevention of radicalisation leading to terrorism, according to Le Figaro, but the French outlet later reported that he had “recently become radicalised”.
Known locally for his “numerous transgressions, notably due to his regular consumption of drugs and alcohol” – according to Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron mayor Christophe Sueur, speaking to Le Parisien – the suspect lives in La Cotiniere, a small fishing village on Ile d’Oleron, a western island connected by road to the French mainland area of Rochefort.
On Wednesday morning, at around 8.45am, the driver ploughed into several people between two villages on the island of Oleron, Dolus-d’Oleron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oleron.
Mr Markowsky said his 21-year-old parliamentary assistant was “jogging and was alone at the spot where she was hit”.
He told BFMTV: “She lost consciousness at first and afterwards she was able to say her name, which for us is the best sign. I hope everything will turn out well for her.”
Victims were airlifted to the University Hospital of Poitiers, while a psychological support unit has been set up at Chateau d’Oleron.
Thibault Brechkoff, the mayor of Dolus-sur-Oleron, said two helicopters were on site and had transported the seriously injured to Poitiers.
French president Emmanuel Macron was said to be following the situation from his plane, which is en route to Brazil.
Yael Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, issued “thoughts to the people injured this morning on the island of Oleron, victims of an attack of unprecedented violence”.
She added on X: “I also wish to express my solidarity with MP Pascal Markowsky and his parliamentary team, one of whose members is seriously injured. Justice must respond with all the necessary clarity and firmness.”