France: Muslim screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ drives into crowd, injuring ten people, cops say motive ‘not confirmed’
Nov 5, 2025 9:00 am
By Robert Spencer
5 Comments
The Islamic State issued this call back in September 2014: “So O muwahhid, do not let this battle pass you by wherever you may be. You must strike the soldiers, patrons, and troops of the tawaghit. Strike their police, security, and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents. Destroy their beds. Embitter their lives for them and busy them with themselves. If you can kill a disbelieving American or European — especially the spiteful and filthy French — or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be….If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him….”
Translation: “Knocking down pedestrians over several kilometers while shouting ‘Allah Akbar’ + having gas canisters in one’s vehicle + trying to set them on fire. The authorities: ‘Nevertheless, the motive is not confirmed and the investigation will have to determine it’ ‘The national antiterrorist prosecutor’s office (PNAT) is not involved at this stage’ What a hell this country is.”
“Driver screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ ploughs in to pedestrians ‘trying to hit everyone he encountered’ on French holiday island leaving ten injured,” by Kevin Adjei-Darko, Daily Mail, November 5, 2025:
A driver screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians on a French holiday island this morning, leaving at least ten people injured.
The car veered towards walkers and cyclists at about 8.45am today as the 35-year-old attacker attempted to hit ‘everyone he encountered’ on the island of Oléron off the West coast of France, officials say.
After the ramming, he tried to set fire to his vehicle, which contained gas cylinders, before he was tasered by police and arrested.
At least ten are injured, with four of them fighting for their lives, including an assistant to MP Pascal Markowsky of the hard-right National Rally party. French terror police and President Emmanuel Macron, who is on his way to Brazil, are monitoring the situation….
Thibault Brechkoff, the mayor of Dolus-d’Oleron, told BFMTV that the man shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’, meaning God is the Greatest in Arabic, during his arrest. He also said the man tried to hit ‘everyone he could encounter’
Police are also examining whether the suspect may have been suffering from mental health problems. French media have indicated that at this stage, the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office is not involved in the investigation. It has instead said it is monitoring developments….
Reports say the man is not listed in the country’s database used to monitor individuals suspected of radicalisation.
Although the suspect’s motives remain unclear, police and prosecutors are probing the cause. The public prosecutor of Le Rochelle, Arnaud Laraize, confirmed that an investigation for attempted murder has been opened.
A resident is reported to have said: ‘An individual in a vehicle is having fun hitting people in his path, and right here in my window, a pedestrian was hit and injured in Saint Pierre d’Oléron.’
“Car ploughs into crowd in France as driver ‘shouts Allahu Akbar’ and leaves at least 10 people injured,” by Ben McCaffrey and Bill Bowkett, GB News, November 5, 2025:
A car has been rammed into a crowd on the French island of Ile d’Oleron off the Atlantic coast on Wednesday, leaving two people in a critical condition and a further eight injured.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested by police with an investigation opened on the incident, which took place around 8:45am local time (7.45am GMT).
The suspect is said to have driven between two villages on the island, hitting and mowing down people, including a young girl, the mayor of Dolus d’Oleron, Thibault Brechkoff, told French television.
“No one has died and we are hoping that the injured will recover,” the mayor added.
Public prosecutor of La Rochelle, Arnaud Laraize, told Le Figaro: “At the time of his arrest, (the man) shouted Allah Akbar (Arabic for ‘God is Great’). However, the motive is not confirmed and the investigation will have to determine it.”
Sources close to the criminal investigation said that officers used an electric pulse gun to neutralise the motorist.
“It appeared to be a deliberate act,” the prosecutors’ office admitted. Anti-terrorism officials are understood to “not involved at this stage” and the suspect is not said to be known to counter-terrorism services.
The suspect is said to reside in La Cotiniere, a small fishing village around two miles from Saint-Pierre-d’Oleron….
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