France: Driver injures ten people in suspected deliberate attack on Oléron Island

Wednesday 05 November 2025 - 14:20

By: Sahili Aya

France: Driver injures ten people in suspected deliberate attack on Oléron Island

Oléron Island, France – November 5, 2025 — Ten people were injured, four of them seriously, after being deliberately struck by a driver on Wednesday morning in western France, on Oléron Island. The suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great”) at the time of his arrest, according to the public prosecutor, who has opened an investigation for attempted murder.

The incident occurred around 8:45 a.m. between the towns of Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, when a 35-year-old French national intentionally drove into pedestrians and cyclists over several kilometers. “The driver, an Oléron resident, deliberately hit multiple pedestrians and cyclists, resulting in ten injuries, including four in critical condition,” said Arnaud Laraize, public prosecutor in La Rochelle.

Although the suspect shouted a religious phrase at the time of his arrest, authorities have not yet confirmed his motive. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has not taken over the case at this stage, but the investigation will determine whether the act was terrorist in nature or related to other motives.

According to police sources, the suspect was known for previous offenses under common law and was placed in custody for attempted murder. Officers used a taser to subdue him after his vehicle caught fire.

Local officials described a scene of panic. Thibault Brechkoff, mayor of Dolus-d’Oléron, confirmed that a crisis unit has been established, referring to the “deliberate nature” of the collisions. The mayor of Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, Christophe Sueur, told Le Parisien that the suspect, a resident of La Cotinière, was known for “erratic behavior linked to regular drug and alcohol use.”

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that he would visit the site at the request of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to assess the situation and support the local community.