ROUEN (AFP)

A man intentionally ploughed his car into a crowd in northern France after an altercation early Saturday, killing one person and injuring five others, two of them critically, prosecutors told AFP.

The incident took place in the town of Evreux in the northern French region of Normandy at around 4:00am Saturday (0200 GMT).

An investigation has been opened into homicide and attempted homicide, according to the prosecutors, who ruled out any "terrorist" or racist motives.

"Unfortunately, the toll is very heavy," Evreux public prosecutor Remi Coutin said.
One man died at the scene, he added.

Five people were injured, and two of them are in critical condition.

Coutin said that "there was an altercation" between a young woman and several men.

"One person went to fetch a vehicle" and "deliberately reversed at high speed into the crowd...", Coutin added, saying the incident had "escalated and ended in a terrible tragedy".

Two men, including the car driver, and a woman have been taken into custody, the prosecutor said, adding that further arrests were possible in the town of around 50,0000 people.