The driver who rammed his car into a crowd in western France on Wednesday is suspected of "self-radicalisation" and had "explicit religious references" at home, the country's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday.

"Based on a number of factors that exist with this individual, and the fact that he actually shouted 'Allahu Akbar', there are religious references in his case that are quite clear and quite explicit", Nunez said.

He added however it wasn't clear at this stage if religious motivations were behind the attack, which injured five people on Oleron island off France's Atlantic coast.

"It is the national terrorism prosecutor's office that will determine, through a psychiatric evaluation, which took place yesterday after two searches, and a review of telephone records, whether these elements were the trigger for the violent action we have seen", Nunez said.

Two of the people injured remain in "absolute health emergency", he added.

The 35-year old suspect, known for petty crime, was arrested.

Deputy Interior Minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne said the man had a criminal record but was not known to the intelligence services.

The Mayor of Dolus-d'Oleron, Thibault Brechkoff, told reporters that the suspect is a local fisherman.

Residents of Ile d'Oleron

Residents of Oleron island were left shocked that a car ramming attack could take place in the otherwise peaceful region.

"We never would have thought that something like this could happen, something so deranged or fanatical," said resident Lydie Claudiere.

Officials including Nunez said the motive for the attack on a quiet island popular with summer tourists remained unknown, adding that the suspect was not on a watchlist of radicalised individuals.

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