A Frenchman on Wednesday rammed his car into pedestrians and cyclists on Oleron Island, off France’s Atlantic coast, injuring five people before being arrested.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who visited the island, said the suspect deliberately struck several people during a 35-minute rampage that began around 8:40 a.m. local time.

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“An individual driving his vehicle went on a journey during which he deliberately hit several people who were in his path, either on bicycles or on foot,” Nunez told reporters.

Officials said five people were injured in total, two of them seriously, including the parliamentary assistant of a far-right National Rally lawmaker. Earlier reports suggesting nine victims were later revised downward.

Nunez confirmed that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” — Arabic for “God is Greatest” — when he was taken into custody, but said it was too early to draw conclusions about his motive.

“That is one element among others being examined,” he said, noting that the investigation was being handled by the local prosecutor’s office in La Rochelle, while the national anti-terrorism unit was monitoring developments.

According to local authorities, the 35-year-old suspect is a fisherman and resident of Dolus-d’Oleron, a quiet island community popular with tourists in summer.

The mayor of Dolus-d’Oleron, Thibault Brechkoff, confirmed the man’s occupation and said the incident had shocked residents.

Images from the scene showed a burnt-out vehicle inspected by gendarmes near Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron. According to Reuters, witnesses said the driver attempted to set his car on fire after the rampage before being overpowered and arrested by police.

Olivier Falorni, a lawmaker for the Charente-Maritime region, told reporters that investigators were keeping an open mind.

“We’re dealing with an individual who lives on the island, and the victims also live on the island. Is this a settling of scores? An Islamist attack? A political act? Or the behaviour of someone mentally unstable? We do not yet know,” Falorni said.

Officials said the suspect was previously known to police for minor offences, including driving under the influence and drug-related crimes, but had not been flagged by intelligence services for radical activity.

“The 35-year-old man, of French citizenship, was known for common law offences and was not known by security services,” junior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne told parliament.

Le Parisien newspaper reported that investigators were exploring the possibility of psychological instability as a factor behind the attack.

Emergency services evacuated some of the injured to hospitals in nearby Poitiers by helicopter, and authorities have since cordoned off several streets where the ramming occurred.

A driver who allegedly struck pedestrians and cyclists in France was taken into custody Wednesday, according to Laurent Nunez, the country’s interior minister.

The alleged incident happened Wednesday morning on a route in Saint Pierre d’Oléron and Dolus d’Oléron, Nunez said in a statement shared to his verified X account. Two of the victims are in serious condition, while another three are injured, according to the same statement.

“This morning, a motorist struck several pedestrians and cyclists on his route in Saint Pierre d’Oléron and Dolus d’Oléron. Two victims are in absolute emergency, and 3 other people are injured. The suspect has been taken into custody by the gendarmes. An investigation has been opened. At the request of the Prime Minister, I am heading to the scene,” Nunez said.

Ce matin, un automobiliste a percuté sur son trajet plusieurs piétons et cyclistes à Saint Pierre d´Oléron et Dolus d’Oléron. Deux victimes sont en urgence absolue et 3 autres personnes blessées. Le mis en cause a été interpellé par les gendarmes. Une enquête est ouverte.

À la… — Laurent Nuñez (@NunezLaurent) November 5, 2025

Christophe Sueur, mayor of Saint-Pierre d’Oléron, told French channel BFMTV the suspect’s actions were “deliberate.”

The suspect intended to strike “everyone he could meet,” Sueur alleged during an interview broadcast on the channel, according to a translation. Sueur also claimed the driver “intentionally set fire to his vehicle.”

According to Sueur, the suspect is known to the police “for not entirely normal attitudes and alcohol-related problems.” Although the suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during his arrest, his motive for the alleged attack has not yet been confirmed, the La Rochelle prosecutor’s office said.

Nunez confirmed reports the suspect yelled “Allahu Akbar” upon arrest, according to Reuters. Nunez said that was only one part of a wider investigation.

While speaking about the attack, Nunez said five people were allegedly struck during the 35-minute rampage. Among the victims is a 22-year-old woman who “suffered multiple traumas,” Nunez said, according to BFMTV. (RELATED: Authorities Name Man Who Risked Life To Shield Girl Amid Horrific Train Stabbing Spree)

French officials said the suspect, a 35-year-old local fisherman, was not on a watchlist of radicalized individuals, Reuters reported.

SAINT-PIERRE-D’OLERON, France (AP) — A motorist “deliberately” hit five people over 35 minutes on Île d’Oléron, a quiet French island popular with summer tourists off the Atlantic coast, two of them seriously, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Wednesday.

Speaking from the scene, Nuñez said an investigation for attempted murder is underway. The case is not being treated as a terrorist investigation, he added.

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One of the victims, a 22-year-old woman, suffered multiple traumas; three others had minor injuries, he said.

Officials gave varying accounts of the number of injured persons, with several pedestrians being monitored for psychological shock.

Thibault Brechkoff, the mayor of Dolus-d’Oléron, who originally said nine people were injured, said that a crisis cell was set up and the suspect was arrested, he said.

French TV showed images of car which had allegedly been set on fire before an arrest was made.

“We are extremely shocked,” Brechkoff told BFM-TV. “All municipal services are fully mobilized. Two helicopters are on site transporting the gravely injured to Poitiers” on the French mainland.

He said he contacted the mother of one of the injured victims. “You’re never prepared to announce news like this,” he said.

Christophe Sueur, the mayor of nearby Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, said the front of the car used by the suspect was “completely torn off.”

He said it appeared the driver “was fully aware of what he was doing.”

According to Sueur, the suspect was known to the police for minor common-law offenses, specifically theft and repeated problems linked to alcohol and drug use. He was not flagged for radicalization.

The incidents took place along roadside areas between Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, with initial calls around 9:00 a.m, local time, according to French media.

Media reports identified the suspect is a 35-year-old French national residing in La Cotinière, a small fishing village on the west coast of Île d’Oléron.

A peaceful morning on the French island of Île d’Oléron turned tragic after a 35-year-old man deliberately drove into pedestrians and cyclists, injuring at least ten people. Four remain in critical condition, according to French authorities.

The shocking attack unfolded between the villages of Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, in what officials described as a “deliberate act.” The suspect, a local man from La Cotinière, was later arrested after being immobilized with a stun gun. He reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Arabic for “God is Greatest”, during his arrest, though anti-terrorism prosecutors are not currently involved.

Who Is the Ile d’Oléron Suspect?

The suspect, identified by French prosecutors as a 35-year-old local resident, was known to police for minor offences such as theft. Authorities confirmed he was not listed as a national security threat, ruling out prior radicalization links for now.

According to Arnaud Laraize, the public prosecutor in La Rochelle, the man resisted arrest and was subdued with a stun gun. He later set his car on fire before being detained.

Mayor Thibault Brechkoff of Dolus-d’Oléron described the incident as “a deliberate attempt to harm,” adding that the driver appeared to have acted alone.

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How the Ile d’Oléron Attack Unfolded

The rampage began around 8:45 a.m. local time (07:45 GMT) when the driver plowed into pedestrians and cyclists along the road connecting Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron. Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as several victims, including a young girl, were struck.

After mowing down multiple people, the driver abandoned his vehicle, set it ablaze, and attempted to flee. A gas canister was later found inside the burnt car, heightening concerns about his intent.

Emergency services quickly arrived, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed two people were in intensive care, while several others sustained serious injuries.

Official Response and Investigation

Interior Minister Nuñez said an inquiry has been opened into the incident and that he had traveled to the scene at the request of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

He called the event “deeply shocking,” adding that France stands with the victims and their families. For now, the case remains under local judicial investigation, with the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office not yet involved due to lack of evidence linking the attack to extremist motives.

What We Know About Ile d’Oléron

Île d’Oléron, located off France’s Atlantic coast near La Rochelle, is the country’s second-largest island after Corsica and a popular tourist destination. Known for its fishing villages, sandy beaches, and cycling routes, it rarely witnesses violent crime.

This attack has therefore shocked residents and tourists alike. Local media describe scenes of confusion as ambulances, firefighters, and police flooded the area.

What Happens Next

The suspect remains in police custody in Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, facing preliminary charges of attempted murder. Prosecutors are examining the suspect’s background and mental health, while forensic teams are analyzing the burnt car and surrounding crime scenes.

Residents are being urged to stay calm as authorities continue to investigate. French officials say there is currently no ongoing threat to the public.

FAQ – What People Are Searching About the Ile d’Oléron Attack

Q1: What happened on Ile d’Oléron?

A1: A 35-year-old man deliberately drove into pedestrians and cyclists on the French island of Ile d’Oléron, injuring several people, including four critically.

Q2: Who is the Ile d’Oléron driver?

A2: The suspect is a 35-year-old French national from La Cotinière, a small fishing village on the island. He was known for minor offences like theft but was not on any terrorism watchlist.

Q3: Did the driver shout anything during the attack?

A3: Yes. According to officials, the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during his arrest, though authorities have not classified the event as terrorism.

Q4: How many people were injured in the Ile d’Oléron car attack?

A4: At least ten people were injured, with four in critical condition and two others in intensive care, according to France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

Q5: Is the Ile d’Oléron attack being treated as terrorism?

A5: Not currently. The French anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office is not involved as investigators have not found clear evidence of terrorist motives.

Q6: What do we know about the suspect’s motive?

A6: The motive remains unclear. Investigators are exploring whether the act was linked to mental health issues or personal grievances rather than ideological extremism.

Q7: What was found in the suspect’s car?

A7: A gas canister was discovered in the burnt vehicle, which the suspect set on fire before attempting to flee. Authorities are analyzing the item as part of the investigation.

Q8: What is Ile d’Oléron known for?

A8: Ile d’Oléron is a popular holiday destination on France’s west coast, known for its beaches, cycling routes, and seafood, particularly oysters and mussels.

Q9: How did police arrest the suspect?

A9: The suspect resisted arrest but was subdued with a stun gun and taken into custody by local police in Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron.

Q10: What happens next in the case?

A10: The suspect is being held for attempted murder while prosecutors assess evidence and witness statements. Further updates are expected once the investigation concludes.

Pedestrians and a cyclist were deliberately run down by a motorist said by police to have cried well-worn war cry “Allahu Akhbar”, with a sovereigntist political activist of the National Rally among those now in critical condition.

What observers have called an “Islamist” or “Jihadist” attack, the kind long known in French cities, has struck ‘La France Profonde’, or deep France, with at least ten injured by a man driving a car into members of the public on a picturesque island best known for its fishing community and slow pace of life.

10 people were injured on Wednesday morning on the Île d’Oléron, an island in the Bay of Biscay near Rochefort by a motorist. Of those injured, four are said to be in “critical condition”. A political aide to a Rassemblement National (the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen) politician is reported by Le Figaro to be one of the worst injured, she having been run over while out jogging at the beach, and has been airlifted to hospital in a state of “absolute emergency”.

Update 1500 — Two in critical condition

While four of the most seriously injured were airlifted to hospital in the wake of the attack, the official count has reduced from four in critical condition to two in the time since news first broke on this rampage. Giving an update during a visit to the Île d’Oléron, the French Interior Minister said the suspect is “not saying much” in police custody but that the investigation is pushing on, including searches of the arrested man’s property.

The original story continues below

A 35-year-old man has been arrested. Police say the suspect is known to officers for small-time criminal activity and drug use and that he lives in a nearby community. A criminal case of attempted murder has been opened, but despite the war cry uttered at the time of the man’s arrest, prosecutors say they haven’t decided what the motive to run several people over at multiple locations on the island may have been.

The local public prosecutor is reported to have said: “At the time of his arrest, he shouted ‘Allah Akbar.’ However, the motive has not been confirmed and the investigation will have to determine it”. Counter-terror police are on scene but have not yet taken control of the investigation.

The car used in the apparent attack was torched by the assailant as he attempted to flee on foot, and it is stated multiple gas cylinders were found in the vehicle, implying an attempt to cause an explosion. Police have not confirmed this at time of publication.

Conservative commentators and politicians spoke out to decry the perpetrator, the attack, and to note in particular how what they called Islamist terror has spread to even France profonde, the deepest and most picturesque parts of the country. Éric Zemmour, a essayist and polemicist-turned candidate for the French Presidency said with his characteristic style: “Just a few years ago, places like the Île d’Oléron were refuges for those who still wanted to live in a preserved France. Today, the situation is such that we see jihadists emerging everywhere in France.”

Jordan Bardella, the Parliamentary leader of the National Rally party which is said to have seen one of its employees critically injured, called for a strict punishment for the perpetrator of what he called “blind and deliberate violence”. His party colleague, MP Sébastien Chenu reflected that nowhere is safe from “this phenomenon” anymore and called on the state to fight the “Islamist hydra”.

He said: “The Islamist threat has never been stronger. This is a war that must be waged here and now. Our country has already paid a heavy price to Islamism”.

This story is developing, more follows