Two dead after car drives into crowd at tram stop in Caen, Normandy
The incident reportedly happened after an altercation at a bar. Driver has been arrested
Two people have died and 10 others injured – several in critical condition – after a motorist drove a car into several people near a tram stop in Caen (Calvados) last night.
The incident took place at around 22:15 and reportedly happened following an altercation involving the suspect at a bar near the city’s main train station.
The driver fled the scene but was arrested in nearby Ouistreham.
He has been named as Ibrahim, a 26-year-old born in Russia. He was previously known to the police but only for traffic offences and there is no suggestion at this stage of a terrorist motive, said Calvados prefect David Clavière in an update last night.
Many of the victims were foreign nationals including Afghans, Egyptians, and Bangladeshis. There is no report of any Britons or Americans being injured in the incident.
“An investigation has been opened on charges of premeditated murder and intentional violence with a weapon [assassinat et violence volontaire avec arme],” said the Caen deputy public prosecutor.
“At this stage, there is no apparent indication of a terrorist motive, though the investigation is just beginning.”
Initial media reports from Wednesday evening stated one person had died, but a second person has been announced dead this morning.
It is unknown whether any of the people injured or killed in the incident were involved in the original altercation.
'Surrounded by injured bodies'
Footage of the aftermath of the incident shows several emergency service vehicles attending to victims laid out at the tram stop as onlookers watched.
"The guys who got run over by the car, they were all sitting by the station," said an eyewitness to media outlet France Ici.
"The car, a black BMW, came from the other direction at full speed and ran everyone over."
"There were so many injured people and everything all over the ground… I was surrounded by the injured, dead bodies next to me... young people under 26."
The driver reportedly circled the bar where the incident happened, honked his horn multiple times, then drove off at high-speed.
