Policewoman ‘deliberately’ hit by car in central Paris as suspects remain on run

From the Express with additional information from the Mirror

A POLICE officer has been “deliberately” hit by a car in Paris, French media have reported. The motorist ‘intentionally’ drove into the policewoman – injuring her outside the residence of President Francois Hollande. The car was driven the wrong way through the one-way system to the Élysée Palace.

Le Parisien has claimed the 37-year old policewoman – who has not been named – suffered injuries to her wrist, knee and back.

Four suspects fled the car on foot.Two were arrested on rue d’Anjou after officers gave chase on motorbikes – but it is believed another two suspects remain at large. One of those arrested was breathalysed and found to be over the legal alcohol limit, reports French media.

Stephanie Weber-Boyer, from the police union Alliance, has told news outlets “there is no doubt about the intention of the driver [to] hit my colleague”. 

She told France Info: “My colleague said that the driver looked at her in the eyes, this is what allows us to say he made this gesture deliberately.” But she added: “You can not tell if it is related to what happened last week.”

The two 19-year-old’s arrested over last night’s incident are said to be from Juvisy-sur-Orge – where gunman Amedy Coulibaly was born. However, police sources have told Europe 1 that there appears to be nothing in the backgrounds of those arrested that would link them to extremism.

One of those arrested is said to have told police in custody that he had simply lost his way and panicked. Prosecutors said this morning “no link is established” with the events of last week.