A 26-year-old Russian man has been arrested after a car allegedly ploughed into a crowd near a train station in Caen, northwestern France, leaving one person dead and 10 injured.
Incident details
The incident occurred around 10.15pm on Wednesday, August 26, near a busy bus terminal in Caen. Police have reported at least one death and 10 injuries.
The event is believed to have transpired after a brawl, according to a police source. One of the men allegedly involved returned to his parked car, climbed into the driver's seat, and "deliberately drove into pedestrians in the street opposite the train station", as per police reports.
Arrest and investigation
The driver allegedly fled the scene but was apprehended shortly thereafter about 12.5 miles from the incident, a police source informed France 24. The suspect, identified as a 26-year-old Russian national, remains in police custody.
He is not known to intelligence services but was known to the police "only for traffic offences". The incident is not believed to be terror related.
Casualties and response
The alleged vehicular assault resulted in seven people being admitted to nearby hospitals in critical conditions. Another three sustained minor injuries, local politician David Claviere reported. All victims injured appear to be males, aged between 17 and 40 years, according to France24.
A formal investigation has now been launched regarding potential charges of murder and aggravated assault. The local prefect for Caen, Claviere, has informed the French media that the assault does not seem to be driven by terrorism.
"For the moment, we are not dealing with a terrorist motive, but the investigation is only just beginning," he stated, refraining from divulging additional information about the confirmed fatality in the attack.
