France Probes 'Racist Terror Attack' After Gunman Kills One, Wounds Five
Authorities investigate a shooting that President Macron called a racist terror attack, involving a World War II-era machine gun and booby-trapped apartment.
A gunman killed one person and wounded five others, including a 12-year-old girl, in a shooting spree outside Paris that French President Emmanuel Macron declared a "racist terror attack." The 39-year-old suspect, identified locally as Kevin T., opened fire randomly as he drove through several areas of Trappes and neighboring La Verriere on Friday morning. He used a British World War II-era Sten-type submachine gun and tear gas during the attack, which investigators found had also involved his apartment being booby-trapped with gas cylinders and electrical wires connected to a timer.
Macron stated that the victims were targeted "because of their skin colour or perceived religion, and for no other reason," emphasizing that "there is no place for this in France." The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation into charges including murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, with the aggravating circumstance of acting on account of the victim's perceived race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion.
The shootings occurred over approximately 15 minutes at three distinct locations. Three of the five wounded individuals sustained life-threatening injuries. The deceased was identified as a French man born in 2000. Among the injured was a 12-year-old girl, who was reported to be very seriously injured.
Police apprehended the suspect shortly after the incident. A search of his vehicle revealed the World War II submachine gun and tear gas. A member of the suspect's immediate family was also taken into police custody. Kevin T. has a criminal record that includes four previous convictions expunged under French law.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez commended the swift response of the five officers from the anti-crime brigade who apprehended the suspect. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh suggested the gunman fired indiscriminately at passersby, possibly targeting individuals of African descent. He described the incident as potentially one of the first attempted mass killings motivated by Islamophobia and racism.
The attack occurred as France prepared for further protests against the high cost of living, with heightened security measures in place to prevent unrest following violent incidents the previous week.