A 27-year-old male was arrested on Saturday morning in the French city of Le Mans, accused of assaulting three people, local media reports.
Ismaël K. remains in police custody following an incident in which a 67-year-old couple called authorities of Robert-Collet Street shortly after 11 a.m. to report an assault.
The victims explained that they had just been attacked and beaten by a stranger who had a Quran in his hands and was shouting “Allahu Akbar.”
The couple managed to flee and took refuge in their home, but they were followed by the attacker who tried to force his way into the house, albeit in vain.
Ismaël K. then allegedly violently assaulted another victim on the street, a man who had been walking on crutches. Authorities arrived soon after and quickly located the suspect who was still striking his victim lying on the ground with one of his crutches. Faced with such aggressiveness, the police used their tasers to arrest him as he entered a nearby store, creating a panic among customers.
The three injured victims were taken to hospital. The 67-year-old woman had a bleeding wound on her face, and her husband was suffering from neck pain. The third victim received treatment for a broken hand.
Police have now opened an investigation into the incident, but the motivations of the assailant are still unknown. The National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) is not believed to be involved in the investigation at this time.
