A 13-year-old girl died and 13 others were injured when a driver plowed his BMW car into a pizzeria in Sept-Sorts, Seine-et-Marne in France. Police believe the 32-year-old Driver was under the influence of drugs and do not consider it a terrorist attack. The driver was quickly arrested.
BMW drives at speed into French Pizzeria
The incident happened Monday night in the small village of Sept-Sorts as a man deliberately drove his BMW vehicle into Pizza Casena.
The 13-year-old girl was killed immediately, while five others, including a three-year-old boy, are in a serious condition and eight other people in the pizzeria received minor injuries. The three-year-old was evacuated by helicopter to the Necker Children’s Hospital in Paris, while other injured were taken to hospitals in Ile-de-France and Paris. Seven people suffering from shock were being treated by therapists.
According to police, an investigation in ongoing, but they do not consider the incident a terrorist attack. The Parisien reports police believe the actions of the man were caused by “desperation” and that it may have been a suicide attempt.
Witnesses speak of the incident in the pizzeria
A witness, named only as Beatrice, told the Parisien she and her son were going to pay for their meal when there was a big “explosion” in the restaurant. She said all she could see was shards of glass and blood and that one person was trapped between the car and the bar in the restaurant.
The Independent quotes another witness who had just paid for their meal and was about to leave the pizzeria when it happened. That person said the car drove straight through the terrace, hitting the bar and then became wedged inside the restaurant. The witness added that the driver attempted to reverse out of the restaurant but several people stopped him by standing behind the BMW.
The police quickly arrived on the scene and arrested the driver. That witness said that to them it was a deliberate act and a terror attack, adding that 20 people were seated on the terrace and were mowed down by the vehicle.
Investigation ongoing into the crash
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, Pierre-Henry Brandet, said the driver was taken into custody with no resistance, adding again that they do not believe the incident was terror-related, but was a voluntary decision on the driver’s part, saying he was likely under the influence of drugs. The deputy prosecutor said in a statement an investigation was underway for intentional homicide with a weapon and driving under the influence of narcotics.
On searching the vehicle, police found no other weapons.
As noted by the Independent, France is on high alert after suffering a series of terror attacks and the officers who quickly responded to the scene were part of the anti-terrorist team.