Car ploughs into crowd in Caen: two dead, suspect arrested in Ouistreham
A car deliberately struck pedestrians near Caen railway station on Wednesday evening, leaving two dead. The 26-year-old driver, of Russian origin, was taken into police custody.
Two dead after car strikes pedestrians near Caen railway station
At approximately 22:15 on Wednesday 26 August, a car deliberately ploughed into pedestrians near a bar located close to Caen railway station in Calvados, according to France Info. The death toll stands at two people dead and several hospitalised. Scenes of panic erupted around the tramway station, where a large number of people were present at the time.
The driver fled immediately after the incident before being arrested in Ouistreham, around twenty kilometres from Caen, according to a police source.
A 26-year-old suspect of Russian origin, unknown to intelligence services
David Clavière, prefect of Calvados, clarified the identity of the main suspect: "This is a person of Russian origin who was born in Russia, who is not known to intelligence services, who is known to police services only for traffic offences."
The suspect, aged 26, was taken into police custody. Philippe Leonardo, deputy public prosecutor of Caen, indicated that investigations had only just begun: "We have a person who is currently in police custody. Investigations are only just beginning. We are seeking to determine what may have led this driver to commit these acts."
Terrorism line ruled out, personal revenge considered more likely
The terrorism hypothesis has for now been ruled out by authorities. The line of revenge following a fight is the one investigators are privileging at this stage.
An inquiry has been opened for murder and intentional violence with weapons.
Source: France Info