(MENAFN) Five individuals sustained injuries, two of them in critical condition, after a man drove his car into pedestrians and cyclists on the French island of Oléron on Wednesday, according to local officials. Witnesses reported that the driver shouted “Allahu Akbar” while being taken into police custody.

The incident, which lasted around 35 minutes, occurred along the roads connecting the towns of Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, the island’s main commune.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that five pedestrians and cyclists were hit before authorities were able to apprehend the driver.

Police managed to subdue the suspect using a stun device after he set his vehicle ablaze. Investigators discovered several gas canisters inside the car, with the La Rochelle prosecutor’s office confirming that the man repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during his arrest.

French anti-terrorism prosecutors are not involved in the inquiry into the alleged attempted murders.

A media outlet reported that the suspect is a 35-year-old resident of the fishing village La Cotiniere, with a history of minor criminal offenses and drug-related charges, but no known ties to organized terrorist networks.

Authorities are examining his claim that he “self-radicalized online” roughly a month ago.

France has experienced multiple vehicle-ramming attacks in recent years.

The deadliest occurred in 2016 when an Islamist extremist drove a truck through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86 people and wounding over 450 before being shot by police.

MENAFN09112025000045017167ID1110316822