Students injured as car driven into them in Toulouse suburb

A driver has ploughed into a group of students near the south-western French city of Toulouse, injuring three.

One of the injured is said to be in a serious condition.

All three are thought to be Chinese.

The incident occurred outside a college in the suburb of Blagnac.

French media quoted police sources as saying the incident was deliberate but the driver, reported to be aged 28, was not on a security watch list.

The man was arrested several minutes later not far from the scene.

Police say the man had several previous minor convictions, notably drugs-related.

Unconfirmed reports say he had a history of mental illness including acute schizophrenia.

La Dépêche du Midi newspaper quoted him as telling police he had heard voices telling him to harm someone.

The injured students, said to be aged 22 and 23, have been taken to hospital in Toulouse.

Toulouse public prosecutor Pierre-Yves Couilleau has visited the scene of the accident and for the moment there has been no suggestion that it is an act of terrorism.

“He... stated that his act was motivated by a desire to ram into people, which he had been preparing for, as he said, about one month,” Mr Couilleau said.

Toulouse Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc tweeted (in French): “Very shocked by the aggression towards the students in Blagnac. We offer all our support to them and their loved ones.”