A driver “shouting Allahu Akbar” has ploughed his car into a crowd of pedestrians on a French holiday island, according to reports.

Axar.az informs, citing Telegraph, the male driver rammed into pedestrians and cyclists on the island of Ile d’Oléron, off the Atlantic Coast, on Wednesday morning, France’s interior minister Laurent Nunez said.

At least ten people were injured, including four critically.

The suspect has been arrested by police and an investigation has been opened, Mr Nunez added.

Christophe Sueur, the mayor of Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron where the incident occurred, said the driver was “known” to police.

“He is someone who is known, particularly to the police, for behaviour that is not entirely normal, and for alcohol-related problems,” the mayor told BMTV.

The country’s anti-terrorism prosecutor has not been included in the investigation at this stage.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect “shouted Allah Akbar”, Arnaud Laraize, public prosecutor in La Rochelle, said.

“However, the motive has not been confirmed and the investigation will have to determine this,” he added.