Newsletters
A man deliberately drove his car into a crowd outside a wine bar in northern France early Saturday following an altercation, killing one person and critically injuring two others, local prosecutors said.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m. in Evreux, a town of approximately 50,000 residents in France's Normandy region.
Authorities have opened a homicide investigation and attempted homicide while ruling out terrorist or racist motives.
"Unfortunately, the toll is very heavy," said Remi Coutin, Evreux's public prosecutor. One man died at the scene, while five others sustained injuries.
The deadly confrontation began with "an altercation" between a young woman and several men inside the establishment, according to Coutin. Security personnel evacuated all patrons from the bar, located in the town center.
"One person went to fetch a vehicle" and "deliberately reversed at high speed into the crowd outside the establishment," the prosecutor said, describing how the dispute "escalated and ended in a terrible tragedy."
Police have arrested three people in connection with the incident—two men, including the driver, and one woman. Additional arrests remain possible, Coutin said.
Mayor Guy Lefrand expressed condolences to the victims and their families while praising the "rapid response of the police and emergency services." Speaking to broadcaster BFMTV, Lefrand noted the bar "should have closed at 1 am" and described it as "an establishment with a bad reputation."
A police source said officers arriving at the scene encountered a panicked crowd, with many people under the influence of alcohol.
1 min read
