Tragic reports are speaking about a driver intentionally plowing their vehicle into a massive crowd of pedestrians, leaving so many people injured at a popular tourist island in France.
The island was identified as Ile d’Olero, where the suspect drove his giant car into both pedestrians and cyclists on a busy road.
The attack arose in the morning at 8:40 am inside the villages of Saint Pierre d’Oleron and Dolus-d’Oleron and went on to last nearly 30 to 35 minutes.
As per the authorities, five people were injured, and two of them were said to be in a serious state. As per some reports, the number of those injured could be higher, nearly 10.
At the moment of this arrest, the suspect reportedly shouted religious sayings and also tried to set his vehicle on fire after carrying out the terrifying act.
The driver was identified as a 35-year-old French national and a resident of that same island.
Police claim he was reported in the past for a few petty offences, including the use of drugs and alcohol. However, he was never flagged for terrorism in the past. As per France’s Interior Minister, despite the suspect yelling out religious references, it’s not clear if his motive was terrorism or mental health concerns.
Investigations are currently ongoing, with authorities considering possible radicalization, psychiatric evaluations, and analysis of phone records.