Attempted Bus Hijacking in Saint-Malo Spurs Terrorism Investigation
A woman’s attempted bus hijacking in Saint-Malo leads to terrorism-related charges and a public safety response including a psychological support unit.
- • On October 27, a 32-year-old woman tried to hijack a bus in Saint-Malo while shouting extremist slogans.
- • The bus driver safely stopped the vehicle, preventing serious harm; one passenger was slightly injured.
- • An investigation was launched for "apology for terrorism" and "aggravated violence" but not taken over by the national anti-terrorism office.
- • The woman was reportedly psychologically fragile and off medication; if convicted, she faces up to five years prison and a €75,000 fine.
Key details
On October 27, 2025, in the old town of Saint-Malo, a 32-year-old woman attempted to hijack a bus carrying about twenty passengers, shouting "Allah Akbar" during the incident. The bus driver acted swiftly with an emergency stop, preventing any serious accident. One passenger sustained minor injuries, but no other serious casualties occurred. The woman, reportedly unknown to police, was detained the following day.
The Saint-Malo prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation focusing on charges of "apology for terrorism" and "aggravated violence" due to the usage of the bus as a weapon within the public transport context. Notably, the national anti-terrorism prosecutor has not taken over the case, deeming the charges less severe. According to Fabrice Tremel, Saint-Malo's prosecutor, and confirmed by union representative Thierry Audouin, determining the intent behind the act remains essential, highlighting the complexity of labeling this as a terrorism act.
The suspect's mother mentioned that her daughter was psychologically fragile and had not taken her medication, which might clarify behavior leading to the incident. The accused faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine if convicted. In response, the local public transport network has established a psychological support unit and commended the bus driver’s calm and professional reaction during the event.