Students injured as driver 'deliberately' ploughs car into crowd

Three people have been injured after a man ploughed a car into a group of students near the south-western French city of Toulouse.

The incident occurred outside a college in the suburb of Blagnac, According to local police it a "deliberate" act of violence intended to cause injury.

French police clarified however, that the 28-year-old driver is not on a security watch-list and after an investigation the public prosecutor said there are no indications that the car attack was an act of terrorism.

The suspect, who has several previous drug-related convictions, has been arrested, BBC News reports.

All three victims, who are thought to be Chinese and aged 22 and 23, have been taken to a hospital in Toulouse for treatment. One of them is said to be in a serious condition.

According to reports the driver has 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.

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."