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A 35-year-old man has rammed a car into pedestrians and cyclists on the French Atlantic island of Oleron, injuring 10 people, including four seriously, a prosecutor says. The Oleron resident "deliberately hit several pedestrians and cyclists" along a main road on the scenic island off the western city of La Rochelle, prosecutor Arnaud Laraize said. Police have arrested the man and are investigating him for attempted murder, but the man's motive was not immediately clear, Mr Laraize said. The prosecutor said the incident occurred on a road joining the towns of Dolus d'Oleron and Saint-Pierre d'Oleron. The mayor of Dolus d'Oleron confirmed the suspect was a resident. Le Parisien newspaper said investigators were looking into the possibility that the suspect was experiencing mental health issues. The man was previously known to police for petty crime including driving while drunk, as well as drug-related offences, local newspaper Charente Libre and other French media reported, citing the mayor of Saint-Pierre d'Oleron, Christophe Sueur. The suspect also tried to set fire to his car, which contained at least one gas canister, French media reported. The far-right National Rally party said one of its parliamentary assistants was among those injured in the attack. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he was heading to the area. AFP and Reuters
