A night out in the French town of Evreux turned tragic early Saturday when a man intentionally rammed his car into a crowd outside a wine bar, killing one person and injuring five others with two in critical condition.
The incident occurred at around 4:00 am local time (0200 GMT) in Normandy, after an altercation broke out inside the establishment. Evreux public prosecutor Remi Coutin confirmed that an investigation has been opened for homicide and attempted homicide but ruled out any “terrorist” or racist motives.
“Unfortunately, the toll is very heavy,” Coutin told reporters, adding that one man died at the scene while five others sustained injuries. “Two of them are in critical condition,” he said.
According to the prosecutor, the violence escalated after a dispute involving a young woman and several men inside the bar. Security personnel intervened and escorted patrons outside, but the confrontation continued.
“One person went to fetch a vehicle and deliberately reversed at high speed into the crowd outside the establishment,” Coutin explained. “The incident escalated and ended in a tragedy.”
Authorities confirmed that two men, including the suspected driver and a woman, have been taken into custody, with further arrests possible as investigations continue.
The mayor of Evreux, Guy Lefrand, expressed his condolences to those affected. “I extend my deepest sympathy and solidarity with the victims, their families, and loved ones,” he said. The mayor also praised emergency responders, noting: “I commend the rapid response of the police and emergency services.”
A police source described the aftermath as chaotic, with officers arriving to find a panicked crowd, many of whom were under the influence of alcohol.
Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV, Mayor Lefrand also highlighted that the wine bar should have been closed by 1:00 am, suggesting questions may be raised about why it remained open.
Evreux, a town of about 50,000 residents, is now reeling from what local officials described as one of its most violent recent tragedies.
