One dead, five injured as car slams into crowd in France

ROUEN, France (AFP): A man intentionally plowed his car into a crowd outside a wine bar in northern France after an altercation early Saturday, killing one person and injuring five others, two of them critically, prosecutors told AFP.

The incident took place in the town of Evreux in the northern French region of Normandy at around 4:00 am Saturday (0200 GMT).

An investigation has been opened into homicide and attempted homicide, according to the prosecutors, who ruled out any “terrorist” or racist motives.

“Unfortunately, the toll is very heavy,” Evreux public prosecutor Remi Coutin said.

One man died at the scene, he added.

Five people were injured, and two of them are in critical condition.

Coutin said that “there was an altercation” between a young woman and several men.

The bouncers escorted all the patrons outside the bar located in the center of the town of around 50,0000 people, the prosecutor said.

“One person went to fetch a vehicle” and “deliberately reversed at high speed into the crowd outside the establishment,” Coutin added, saying the incident had “escalated and ended in a terrible tragedy.”

Two men, including the car driver, and a woman have been taken into custody, the prosecutor said, adding that further arrests were possible.

Guy Lefrand, the mayor of Evreux, expressed his “deepest sympathy and solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones.”

“I commend the rapid response of the police and emergency services,” he added.

When the police arrived, they saw a panicked crowd, with many people under the influence of alcohol, a police source said.

The mayor, speaking to broadcaster BFMTV, said the bar should have closed at 1 am.

“It is an establishment with a bad reputation,” added Lefrand.