Trappes shooting: one dead, terror prosecutors examine racist motive

A gunman killed one person and wounded several others in the Paris suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière on Friday morning, authorities said. The attacker fired from a moving car at people in three different locations at around 10 a.m., including at a playground. Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh later put the number of wounded at five, three of them seriously. The victims include a 12-year-old girl who was hit by several bullets; according to La Verrière mayor Nicolas Dainville, she is in stable condition. Authorities said the attack lasted just under 15 minutes before officers from an anti-crime brigade stopped the man.

The suspect, a 39-year-old man, was arrested in the neighbouring town of Coignières. Police sources said he was already known to police. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the weapon appeared to be military-grade or fully automatic and said the gunman had “clearly” committed a terrorist crime. France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (PNAT) took over the investigation into murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Investigators are examining whether the victims were targeted because of their real or perceived origin or religion. At least two of the victims are from immigrant backgrounds, according to CBS. The motive has not yet been established.

President Emmanuel Macron said the nation was standing with the victims of this “terrible ordeal”. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called the case “very serious”. Mayor Rabeh said the gunman had fired at random and wanted to cause a bloodbath; he called it a terrorist attack with racist, likely Islamophobic, overtones. The attack came amid nationwide protests and riots that are already stretching France’s security forces.