A driver was arrested after deliberately driving into people at several points on the island of Oleron in western France, injuring at least ten people, four of whom are in critical condition, AFP reported, citing a statement from the prosecutor's office, BTA reports.
It specified that an investigation into "attempted murder" has been launched.
"A 35-year-old man, a resident of Oleron, deliberately hit several pedestrians and cyclists (ten injured, four of whom are in critical condition) on the road between Dollu d‘Oleron and Saint-Pierre d‘Oleron", the La Rochelle prosecutor told AFP Arnaud Larez.
During his arrest, the suspect "shouted Allahu Akbar," he added.
"However, (his) motives have not yet been confirmed and the investigation must establish them," he said, adding that the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office "has not yet taken over the case."
The suspect is known to police for other crimes and was arrested for "attempted murder."
The man "deliberately pushed" his victims for several kilometers, a source close to the investigation told AFP.
The mayor of Dol-de-Oléron, Thibaut Breschoff, reported on Facebook that "deliberate" caused traffic accidents in his town and in neighboring Saint-Pierre d'Oleron. He told AFP that the suspect was a resident of Den-Pierre d'Oleron.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he would visit the scene of the accident "at the request of Prime Minister" Sebastien Lecornu.