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A driver plowed his car into pedestrians and cyclists on the holiday island of Ile d’Oleron, off the west coast of France, leaving four people in critical condition.
A local man in his 30s deliberately plowed into people and was arrested after being immobilized with a stun gun, authorities said.
The man walked some distance between two villages on the island, mowing down several people, including a young girl, Doles d’Oleron Mayor Thibaut Brechkov said.
He eventually abandoned his vehicle and tried to start it before fleeing, Brechkov said.
La Rochelle prosecutor Arnaud Laraise said the suspect was known to police and had shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) at the time of his arrest.
The 35-year-old man was detained by police in Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron on suspicion of attempted murder, but French counter-terrorism authorities have not claimed responsibility for the case.
A popular holiday destination, Ile d’Oleron is the second largest island in metropolitan France after Corsica and is connected to the mainland by a causeway bridge.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunes said an investigation into the incident had begun and he was heading to the scene.
The incident happened around 08:45 (07:45 GMT), and local reports said a gas cylinder was found in the back of the suspect’s car after he tried to ignite the vehicle.
Witnesses described seeing a series of incidents in several places on the island, including the villages of Dolus d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, which ended in front of a bakery.
