2 hours ago
Last Updated:November 05, 2025, 18:45 IST
The man, a resident of La Cotinière, allegedly rammed into pedestrians and cyclists on Oleron Island. Gas cylinders were reportedly found in his car.
Police officers in Oleron seen close to the site where a man in his mid-thirties chanted ‘god is greatest’ in Arabic after ramming his car into pedestrians and cyclists. (IMAGE: CANAL16/YouTube)
A 35-year-old man drove his car into pedestrians and cyclists on the French Atlantic island of Oleron on Wednesday, injuring ten people, including four seriously, prosecutors said.
According to French broadcaster BFMTV, two of the injured are in intensive care. The mayor of Dolus d’Oleron, Christophe Sueur confirmed that the suspect is a resident of the area.
Government prosecutor Arnaud Laraize said the man had “deliberately hit several pedestrians and cyclists" on a road connecting the towns of Dolus d’Oleron and Saint-Pierre d’Oleron. The attacks reportedly took place across several kilometres, AFP reported.
When he was arrested, the man shouted “God is the greatest" (“Allahu Akbar" in Arabic), the magistrate told AFP. The phrase, commonly used by Muslims in prayer, has also been used by Islamist extremists during attacks in the past.
Police have detained the suspect and opened an investigation for “attempted murder." The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Oleron is a scenic island off France’s western coast near the city of La Rochelle.
What We Know About The Suspect
The suspect lives in La Cotinière, a small fishing village about four kilometres from Saint-Pierre-d’Oleron in Charente-Maritime. According to Le Figaro, he was known to authorities for incidents involving drug and alcohol use.
Gas cylinders were reportedly found in the trunk of his Honda Civic, a source told Le Figaro. Prosecutor Laraize said this information is currently being verified.
Before being apprehended, the suspect allegedly tried to set fire to his vehicle. He is now in police custody at the Saint-Pierre-d’Oleron police station.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se...Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se...
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First Published:
November 05, 2025, 18:45 IST
News world Man Shouts 'Allahu Akbar' After Ramming Car Into Cyclists, Pedestrians In France; 10 Injured
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