Two people have died and 10 others were injured after a car was driven into a crowd outside a railway station in Caen, northwest France. A 26-year-old Russian national has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Incident details
The incident took place on Wednesday at around 10.30pm local time, near the train station, following an alleged fight at a bar. A police source said the ramming is thought to have occurred after the fight, with one of the men allegedly involved in the earlier scuffle returning to his parked vehicle. He is understood to have gotten behind the wheel before he "deliberately drove into pedestrians in the street opposite the train station", as per police.
Seven people were admitted in critical conditions to nearby hospitals. According to local politician David Claviere, another three suffered from minor injuries.
Arrest and investigation
The driver allegedly fled the scene but was arrested shortly afterwards about 12.5 miles from the scene, a police source told France 24. The 26-year-old Russian national remains in police custody. It is understood that he is known to the police "only for traffic offences", and not known to intelligence services.
All the victims hurt in the attack appear to be men, between 17 and 40 years of age, France24 reports. City security officials have also confirmed a formal investigation is now under way regarding possible charges of murder and aggravated assault.
No terrorist motive suspected
Claviere, the local prefect for Caen, told the French press the attack does not appear to be motivated by terrorism. Declining to provide further details, he said: "for the moment, we are not dealing with a terrorist motive, but the investigation is only just beginning."
