On Wednesday morning, a driver deliberately rammed his car into pedestrians and cyclists on the popular holiday island of Oléron, off France's west coast, injuring at least ten people. The incident, which began around 08:45 AM (07:45 GMT) and lasted approximately 25 minutes, unfolded between the villages of Dolus d'Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron in the Charente-Maritime region.

The 35-year-old local man was arrested after being immobilized with a stun gun. Witnesses and officials reported that he shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) at the moment of his arrest and attempted to hit "everyone he encountered" as he drove across several miles of the island. After the ramming, the suspect abandoned his vehicle, which contained gas cylinders, and set it on fire before attempting to flee.

Of the at least ten people injured, four were reported to be in critical condition. Victims' ages ranged from 21 to 69. Among those severely injured was a 22-year-old woman named Emma, an assistant to MP Pascal Markowsky of the National Rally party. She suffered multiple traumas, including fractures and a head injury, and was airlifted to a hospital in Poitiers. Markowsky confirmed that his aide lost consciousness instantly but later regained it to provide her name to responders. Isabelle Romain, a local witness, described seeing a woman lying motionless in an unnatural position, initially fearing she was dead, before she was moved and airlifted.

The suspect, a French national living in a mobile home in La Cotiniere on the island, was known to police for numerous transgressions, including regular drug and alcohol use, theft, and driving while intoxicated. Christophe Sueur, the mayor of Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, stated that the man had lived on the island for a long time and had many family members there. Authorities are examining whether mental health problems may have played a role in the attack, though he is not listed in the country's database for radicalized individuals. His motives remain unclear as police and prosecutors probe the cause.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez traveled to the scene, and President Emmanuel Macron is monitoring the situation. The public prosecutor for La Rochelle, Arnaud Laraize, confirmed that an investigation for attempted murder has been opened. While initial reports indicated the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office was not directly involved, they are closely monitoring developments. A psychological support unit has been established at Château d'Oléron to assist those affected by the horrific event. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, extended her solidarity to the victims and first responders, thanking the police and emergency services.