All of the victims were men estimated to be between 17 and 40 years old, according to French media
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NEED TO KNOW
- A car struck a group of pedestrians in Caen, France, on Wednesday, Aug. 26, leaving two people dead and nine injured
- The 26-year-old suspect, who was previously known to authorities for traffic offenses, was arrested after being tracked down using surveillance footage
- The public prosecutor has opened an investigation for murder and intentional violence with a weapon
Two people have died and nine people have been left injured after a car plowed into a group of people in France.
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, a car crashed into pedestrians in Caen, a city around 150 miles west of Paris, at around 10:15 p.m. local time, according to a Facebook statement by local Mayor Aristide Olivier.
He alleged that a “person driving their vehicle struck a group of people gathered near the tram stop, Place de la Gare,” in the post, which was translated from French. “Emergency services and security forces immediately responded to the scene.”
Witnesses claimed that two groups of people had an altercation before the incident, according to the BBC and AFP, via French outlet Le Monde.
Credit: Matthieu CLAVEL / AFP via Getty
The region’s top official, Calvados Prefect David Clavière, told reporters that one person had died and 10 people were injured — including seven in critical condition.
The death toll rose to two overnight, leaving nine injured, according to AP News, citing Clavière’s office.
All of the victims were men estimated to be between 17 and 40 years old, Caen security official Bruno Coutanceau told AFP, per the BBC.
The suspect was tracked down after a search was launched by authorities in Normandy. He is a 26-year-old man who was born in Russia, the outlet reported.
He was arrested around 12 miles north of the scene in the town of Ouistreham after being tracked down using the city’s surveillance cameras.
Credit: Antoine Boureau / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty
“Thanks to the swift action of law enforcement and the use of CCTV footage, the suspect was quickly apprehended and taken into custody,” Olivier said in his statement. “This individual is not known to intelligence services, but is known to the police for traffic offenses.”
He added that the public prosecutor has opened an investigation for murder and intentional violence with a weapon.
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“I extend my deepest condolences to the victims and their families. I also wish to commend and thank all the emergency and security services for their swift response and mobilization,” Olivier said.
The injured are receiving treatment in the emergency room of a hospital nearby. Police are continuing to investigate the case, the BBC reported.
“For the moment, we are not dealing with a terrorist motive, but the investigation is only just beginning,” Coutanceau told the outlet.
Caen police station did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further information.
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