Disturbed driver who injured 13 pedestrians in France had ‘no jihadi links’

A Frenchman who ploughed into pedestrians shouting “Allahu Akbar” had been to psychiatric hospital 157 times and had no known links to jihadist groups, a prosecutor said yesterday, easing concerns the attack was inspired by Islamic extremism.

The incident in the eastern town of Dijon left 13 people hurt in a scene one witness described as “apocalyptic” and came a day after a man assaulted police in the central town of Joue-les-Tours with a knife, slashing one officer in the face.

That man, who was shot dead, had also reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” – an Islamic phrase that has previously been used by extremists when waging violent attacks – prompting speculation both assaults were motivated by radical Islamism.

But French leaders were quick to play down any links between the two incidents, with President Francois Hollande urging the French not to panic and government spokesman Stephane Le Foll warning against “lumping them together”.

In Saturday’s attack, Bertrand Nzohabonayo, a French convert to Islam who was born in Burundi, was shot dead after entering a police station in Joue-les-Tours armed with a knife, seriously wounding two officers and hurting another.

The assault prompted the government to step up security at police and fire stations nationwide.