Three Chinese students injured in car attack in Toulouse

The three victims have been taken to hospital

A driver has ploughed into a group of pedestrians near the French city of Toulouse, injuring three Chinese exchange students.

A 23-year-old woman was seriously injured, and two men aged 22 and 23 were also hurt, police said.

The incident occurred outside a college in the suburb of Blagnac.

The 28-year-old driver "purposefully hit" the group on a crosswalk, Toulouse prosecutor Pierre-Yves Couilleau said.

The victims are students at the ICD-Toulouse International Business School. The woman's life is not in danger, police said.

The driver was arrested immediately afterwards. Police said he had several previous minor convictions, some drugs-related.

Unconfirmed reports say he had 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.

Mr Couilleau visited the scene of the accident and said there was no suggestion the incident was an act of terrorism.

"What matters in this case is the psychiatric profile of the person," he said.

The man "had been planning this act for a month", Mr Couilleau added.

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."