Attempted Bus Hijacking in Saint-Malo Spurs Terrorism Investigation

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.