by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
PARIS (Worthy News) – A driver deliberately rammed his vehicle into pedestrians and cyclists on France’s Île d’Oléron island off the Atlantic coast, wounding at least five people — two of them critically — before being arrested, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed Wednesday.
The attack raised concerns about the growing influence of Islam and migration from mainly Muslim nations in France and other European Union countries.
The motorist, a 35-year-old French national, reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“Allah is Greatest”) when apprehended by police, according to local prosecutor Arnaud Laraize, quoted by the regional newspaper Sud Ouest.
Nunez said the driver “deliberately” hit five people over 35 minutes on Île d’Oléron, a quiet tourist island known for its beaches and oyster farms. Two victims were seriously injured.
Speaking from the scene, Nunez confirmed that an investigation for attempted murder was underway but that the case was not being treated as terrorism at this stage.
One of the victims, a 22-year-old woman, suffered multiple traumas, while three others sustained minor injuries. Several additional pedestrians were treated for psychological shock.
French broadcaster BFM TV showed footage of the suspect’s damaged car, which had apparently been set on fire before police subdued the driver.
LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOCKED
Thibault Brechkoff, the mayor of Dolus-d’Oléron, initially said nine people were injured and confirmed that a crisis cell had been set up. “We are extremely shocked,” he told BFM-TV. “All municipal services are fully mobilized. Two helicopters are on site, transporting the gravely injured to Poitiers.”
Brechkoff said he had personally contacted relatives of one of the victims. “You’re never prepared to announce news like this,” he said.
Christophe Sueur, the mayor of nearby Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, said the front of the car was completely torn off and that it appeared the driver “was fully aware of what he was doing.”
He confirmed the suspect was known to police for minor offences such as theft and repeated problems involving alcohol and drug use, but that he was not flagged for radicalization.
The attacks occurred between Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, with the first emergency calls received around 9:00 a.m. local time, according to French media.
Authorities identified the suspect as a resident of La Cotinière, a small fishing village on the island’s west coast. Police said he acted alone.
Interior Minister Nunez told reporters that attempted-murder charges were expected and that the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office would continue monitoring developments.
MIGRATION AND SECURITY DEBATE
Although the suspect is French, his shouted phrase and the nature of the assault have reignited France’s heated debate over Islam, migration, and national identity — particularly amid a broader EU dispute on asylum and border security.
Conservative lawmakers in Paris and Brussels quickly pointed to the incident as evidence of Europe’s struggle to integrate migrants and counter radical ideologies. Others cautioned against conflating religion with violence, noting the suspect’s personal history of instability and substance abuse.
The EU continues to face mounting pressure to tighten external border controls while maintaining humanitarian protections, as record numbers of migrants continue arriving by sea and land routes.
French President Emmanuel Macron has not yet publicly commented on the incident, but officials said he was being briefed on developments. Interior Minister Nunez urged restraint and national unity. “We must let investigators do their work and avoid drawing hasty conclusions,” he said.
Authorities stress that the investigation is ongoing and that the motive has not yet been formally established. While the suspect shouted an Islamic phrase, no direct link to organized extremist groups was immediately confirmed.
However, residents held a candlelight gathering Wednesday night in solidarity with the victims, who remain hospitalized in Poitiers and La Rochelle.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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