French prosecutors say suspect in car-ramming pledged allegiance to Islamic State

PARIS — A 29-year-old Frenchman who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group is facing possible terrorism charges after he rammed his car into police, injuring three officers.

The incident occurred yesterday in the northwestern Paris suburb of Colombes, while police were conducting an ID check. The driver slammed into police cars and police motorcycles, sending three officers to the hospital, the national counter-terrorism prosecution office says in a statement today.

The driver was arrested, and investigators found a knife in his car along with a letter pledging allegiance to IS and claiming to want to impose Islamic sharia law around the world, the statement says.

Counter-terrorism prosecutors decide to take over the investigation after the driver underwent a psychological examination today and was found to be of sound mind.

The man, who is not identified, is facing possible charges of links to criminal terrorism and attempted killing of officers in connection with a terrorist enterprise, the statement says.

More than 200 people were killed around France in Islamic State attacks in 2015 and 2016, and police and soldiers have been repeatedly targeted by violent extremists.

Police have stepped up street controls since France imposed nationwide confinement measures last month to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

— AP