ELEVEN people were injured in eastern France after a known psychiatric patient
drove into pedestrians while allegedly shouting Islamic slogans.
Two of those hit by the driver, who was believed to be drunk, were in a very
serious condition in the city of Dijon.
“He ran over as many people as he could in a Renault Clio and many are
suffering with very serious head injuries,” said a police source at the
scene.
Pictures showed the injured lying in the road around Place Wilson, as
emergency vehicles arrived to take them to local hospitals.
The 40-year-old was known to police, and may have carried out a copycat attack
based on terrorist related incidents in his home country, and in Australia.
Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet confirmed that the man was a
psychiatric patient and used expressions including “Allahu Akbar”, or “God
is Great”.
He was also heard to say “For the Children of Palestine”, referring to deaths
of more than 500 youngsters during the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza
Strip over the summer.
“According to our information he was acting alone,” said Mr Brandet. “He was
arrested in the centre of the city and was immediately placed in custody.”
He said the man, who has not yet been identified, may face terrorist charges,
but that will be a decision for the justice system.
The driver was thought to be heading for a police station in Dijon, but only
got as far as surrounding streets before his car was stopped.
It follows security being stepped up at police and fire stations across France
after a knife-wielding French convert to Islam was shot dead after attacking
three police officers on Saturday.
Bertrand Nzohabonayo was himself shot dead after entering a police station in
the central town of Joue-les-Tours armed with a knife, seriously wounding
two officers, including slashing one in the face.
Nzohabonayo, who had posted an IS flag on his Facebook account, was a French
national born in Burundi in 1994.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve visited the scene of the attack on
Saturday, saying he had ordered security measures to be stepped up for all
officers.
Nzohabonayo had previously committed petty criminal offences but his brother
was being watched and had considered going to fight in Syria.
Authorities in France believe around 1,200 French nationals are involved in
jihadist networks in Iraq and Syria.
Governments around the world have been braced for further “lone wolf” attacks
by individuals who show their support for IS, which now controls huge parts
of Syria and Iraq.
Last week in Sydney, Australia, Man Haron Monis, an Iranian-born Islamist with
a history of extremism and violence entered
a cafe and held people hostage for 16 hours.
Three people, including the attacker, died in an assault by special forces.