Two Men Injure French Citizens While Yelling, 'Allahu Akbar'; Officials Investigating Possible Ties to ISIS
A reported convert to Islam drove his car into a crowd, injuring 13 people in France, all while shouting "God is great!" in Arabic; authorities are now investigating whether he had ties to ISIS or simply lashed out on his own.
The 40-year-old is a known psychiatric patient who drove into groups of people in Dijon, France on Sunday. Witnesses told police that the driver, still unnamed, yelled "Allahu Akbar" and "that he was acting for the children of Palestine." The incident left two of those in the crowd in "very serious" condition.
"Many are suffering with very serious head injuries," a source told Mail Online.
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"According to our information, he was acting alone," Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. "He was arrested in the center of the city and was immediately placed in custody. [He] may face terrorist charges, but that will be a decision for the justice system."
France was already on high alert after Bertrand Nzohabonayo threatened police in Joue-les-Tours, wounded three officers in a knife attack on Saturday. Nzohabonayo converted to Islam and posted radical statements on his Facebook page; he allegedly cried "Allahu Akbar" during the attack. Police opened fire, killing the 20-year-old. Thankfully, the injured officers are expected to make full recoveries.
"There are grounds to probe whether he acted alone, whether he followed orders, or whether it was a mindless action," Tours prosecutor Jean-Luc Beck told BFM TV.
The two attacks could be linked to calls from members of ISIS to attack French citizens in retribution for their part in trying to disarm and dismantle the terrorist organization. It will be crucial to determine whether Nzohabonayo worked alone or was called to action by ISIS leaders.
The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, tweeted to his countrymen that he was in "solidarity" with the victims of all the attacks. Meanwhile, the citizens of France continue to recover from the aftermath of both attacks.
