The man who killed a 12-year old girl and injured more than a dozen others in Sept-Sorts, France wanted to be sent to prison for his safety, prosecutor Eric de Valroger said Tuesday.

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 14, 2017

​"He has come across during questioning as being acutely paranoid, making numerous statements that he feels as if he is constantly followed, hunted by the police," de Valroger announced in a press briefing.

With the 32-year-old man repeatedly coming off as incoherent, officials say he will be undergoing psychiatric tests.

"He told us that if he committed an act that would result in him being sent to prison the he would be safe," the official added.

Facing aggravated murder and attempted murder charges, the French prosecutor indicated the assailant revealed he'd abused pharmaceutical drugs since he was nine and that he'd also taken an excessive amount of medication prior to ramming his car into the outdoor cafe.

According to French Interior Ministry Pierre-Henry Brandet, the man is also believed to have tried to kill himself the week prior. He also clarified that the man was not known to either intelligence officials or police.

"He said initially that he aimed to kill himself, knowing full well that these medicines couldn't end his life," de Valroger said. "He later eventually said that it was to help him sleep."

Since the attack late Monday night, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed condolences and support for the victims and survivors.

The incident occurred less than a week after an Algerian man — with unclear motives — drove his car into a group of French soldiers.