France: Woman Tries to Crash Her Car Into Other Vehicles

Shouts, "Allahu akbar" while being arrested

Calanques National Park

On December 22, a woman wearing a  veil and holding a Koran attempted to crash her car into other vehicles in the Marseille area. When police arrived, she repeatedly shouted, "Allahu akbar" while being placed in custody. The below article from Le Figaro is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/marseille-une-femme-tente-de-percuter-plusieurs-vehicules-puis-crie-allah-akbar-lors-de-son-interpellation-20211224

Marseille: Woman tries to crash into several vehicles then shouts, "Allahu akbar" during her arrest

By Guillaume Poingt

Posted three hours ago, updated 2 hours ago

Caption beneath photo: Cars parked at national park of Calanques, Marseille (image AFP)

The suspect, 34, was stopped by police with a copy of Koran in her hand. There were no injuries.

A 34-year-old woman, Asma B., was arrested Wednesday, 22 December around 14:30 after having tried to deliberately collide with several vehicles on a pass in the Calanques massif, in the 9th district of Marseille, Le Figaro learned from a source close to the case.

Known to police (for destruction of private property) but unknown to national intelligence, the suspect-veiled- shouted, "Allahu akbar" several times during her arrest. Holding a Koran in her hand, she bragged of having "acted well" but also of being "in contact with terrorists".

"If he approaches, you press!"

A few minutes before her arrest, several drivers had called the police to report the presence of this woman praying at the side of the road, close to her vehicle parked dangerously at the pass of the Gineste, a winding road connecting Marseille and Cassis.

Just after this prayer, the 30-something had taken the wheel of her vehicle then tried to deliberately crash into other drivers. Thinking that the woman driver wanted to kill herself, an individual got out of his car to try and establish a dialogue with her. But on approaching, he noticed that she was in a telephone conversation on loudspeaker with a man who ordered her: "If he approaches, you press!". The woman driver then attempted to crash into the pedestrian, missing him.

Placed in custody, Asma B. was taken to the emergency room after feeling ill. She was then hospitalized in the psychiatric ward. Previously residing a Limoges, the subject had previously spent time in a  psychiatric hospital in March 2019 due to her "delirious and paranoid" state. Investigations continue.