Two Killed, Nine Injured in Deliberate Car Ramming in Caen, France

Two men were killed and nine others injured after a driver deliberately rammed a car into a group of people near the train station in Caen, Normandy, French authorities said.

Seven of the injured were reported to be in critical condition following the incident late Wednesday night.

Car Driven Into Crowd After Fight

Investigators believe the incident followed a dispute and fight outside a nearby bar.

The driver allegedly returned in his vehicle, entered a bus lane and struck several men standing near a bus shelter outside Caen station.

The two men killed were aged 35 and 28 and are believed to have been Afghan nationals. The nine injured victims, all men aged between 17 and 36, included people of several nationalities.

Russian Suspect Arrested in Ouistreham

The suspected driver fled Caen following the ramming but was arrested during a major police operation in the neighboring port city of Ouistreham.

Authorities identified him as a 26-year-old Russian national of Chechen origin who was legally residing in France.

The suspect told investigators that he had been attacked near the station before the incident. Prosecutors said his account would be thoroughly examined.

No Terrorist Motive Suspected

The Caen prosecutor’s office said there was no apparent terrorist motive at this stage, although the investigation remains in its early phases.

The suspect was not known to French intelligence services, had no previous criminal convictions and was not under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.