The persons who died in the accident are believed to have been Afghans, and nine more people were injured.
Late Wednesday evening, a car crashed into a group of people gathered outside the Normandy bar in the port city of Caen following a dispute, said David Claviere, the prefect of the Calvados department.
The events unfolded after a fight during which the suspect was attacked by several people, a police source said.
He returned with his car, drove into the bus lane in front of Caen station, and deliberately rammed into those men and other people standing at the stop, the police source said.
The Caen prosecutor’s office stated that “there appears to be no terrorist motive, but the investigation is just beginning.”
The suspect, legally residing in France, was not known to intelligence services and had never been convicted, officials reported.
2 dead, 9 injured
On Wednesday, the death of a man, who according to a police source was a 35-year-old Afghan, was confirmed.
Read more Support for FIFA President Infantino is falling apart: Estonia has withdrawn its letter of support
The second victim, who was 28 years old, is also believed to be Afghan, said regional prosecutor Joel Garrigue. He added that all nine injured, aged between 17 and 36, are men.
The condition of seven of the injured, who are of various nationalities, is critical, he added.
Several of them suffered “lower limb fractures,” according to the prosecutor’s statement.
According to a police source, among the victims are citizens of France, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Sudan.
The driver fled
The 26-year-old driver, a Russian citizen from the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus Chechen region, later fled the scene.
Security forces detained him in the neighboring port city of Ouistreham after a large search operation, the gendarmerie reported.
During questioning, the suspect “stated that he experienced violence in the station square before the incident,” said the prosecutor.
Read more Smuggling of prohibited items prevented in Marijampolė prison
“His statements will, of course, be thoroughly verified,” added J. Garrigue.
The man was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, he said.
