Two dead and nine injured after car strikes bus shelter in Caen
A 26-year-old man deliberately drove into a group of young people near Caen railway station, killing two people and injuring nine others. The suspect, a Russian national, was arrested in Ouistreham.
Deliberate attack at Caen tram stop: two dead, nine injured
Two men aged 28 and 30 lost their lives on Wednesday 26 August at 22:15 after a powerful saloon car deliberately drove into a group of young people gathered in front of a tram stop near Caen railway station in Calvados. Nine other people were injured, some seriously. According to France Info, the driver fled immediately after the incident, leaving several victims on the ground.
"They are all my friends. They have broken legs, broken arms, there are dead people," said a witness present at the scene.
Prefect rules out accident theory on the evening of the incident
David Clavière, prefect of Calvados, confirmed the intentional nature of the act on the same evening. "What we are certain of is this car that deliberately drove into people who were on public land," he said.
Thanks to images from the city's video surveillance cameras, the suspect was identified quickly. He was arrested approximately one hour after the incident in Ouistreham, about twenty kilometres from Caen.
The suspect: a 26-year-old man of Russian nationality, with no criminal record
The suspect is Ibrahim I., 26, a Russian national, in regular status on French territory. He had no criminal record but was known for traffic violations.
In custody, he mentioned a prior dispute with two of the victims. Chedia Saadaoui, from the Alliance Calvados police union, specified the version given by the suspect: "There had already been several altercations between groups of individuals including the perpetrator and some of the victims. Last night, there would have been yet another altercation and so the perpetrator decided to take revenge and therefore use his vehicle as a weapon."
Terrorist motive ruled out, investigation opened for murders
At this stage of the investigation, terrorist motivation has been officially ruled out by the authorities. An investigation has been opened for murders and violence with weapons. The investigation is continuing in order to determine the exact circumstances of the altercations preceding the attack.
Source: France Info