Caen: Two people were killed and around 10 others injured, most of them critically, when a driver deliberately plowed into pedestrians in the northern French city of Caen, local authorities reported. The incident took place near the Caen railway station on Wednesday night at approximately 10.10 pm local time.

According to Anadolu Agency, Calvados Prefect David Claviere stated that a vehicle 'deliberately drove into pedestrians' in front of the station. Initial witness accounts suggested that the suspect was involved in a confrontation with a group earlier in the evening. He returned to the area by car, identified individuals involved in the dispute gathered under a bus shelter, and proceeded to strike them before fleeing the scene.

The initial toll was one dead and 10 injured, with seven in critical condition. Tragically, a second victim later succumbed to injuries at Caen University Hospital. The driver was apprehended near Ouistreham, about 20 kilometers from Caen, after being tracked through the city's surveillance camera network. His vehicle was discovered in the nearby commune of Amfreville.

The 26-year-old suspect, a Russian national legally residing in France, was not previously known to intelligence services, authorities revealed. Although he had been cited for traffic offenses, he had no criminal record. Prosecutors have launched an investigation into murder and intentional violence with a weapon, assigning the case to Calvados' organized and specialized crime division.

Authorities have not classified the incident as terrorism, though they have not ruled out any possibilities. Prosecutors noted that in his initial statement, the suspect claimed he had been assaulted outside the railway station earlier in the evening.