The 35-year-old local resident was arrested attempting to set his car ablaze, reportedly shouting religious phrases.

Bordeaux: A 35-year-old man from the French Atlantic island of Oleron deliberately rammed his car into pedestrians and cyclists, injuring 10 people, including four seriously. Prosecutor Arnaud Laraize said the man "deliberately hit several pedestrians and cyclists" along a main road on the island near La Rochelle. Police arrested him with a taser as he tried to set his car on fire. Upon arrest, he shouted "God is the greatest" in Arabic, a phrase used both in Islam and by militants during attacks.
The motive remains unclear, but the man is being investigated for alleged "attempted murder." He was previously known to police for petty crimes, and authorities have not ruled out a psychiatric disorder. The incidents occurred on a road between Dolus d'Oleron and Saint-Pierre d'Oleron, and the mayor confirmed the suspect was a local resident. France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced he was travelling to the area to address the situation publicly.
This attack comes amid a backdrop of multiple jihadist attacks in France over recent years, including the 2016 Nice truck attack that killed 86 people and other IS-claimed attacks, such as the Bataclan concert hall massacre, which France is approaching the 10-year anniversary of.
With inputs from AFP
Published: 05 Nov 2025, 06:58 pm IST
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