French authorities probe suburban shooting as racial terror plot

UPDATE - follow-up to Deadly shooting near Paris is a 'racist terrorist attack', Macron says: One person was killed and five others were injured during a 15-minute shooting spree across the Parisian suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière, which French President Emmanuel Macron has classified as a racist terror attack.

The Attack Details

During Friday morning, a 39-year-old suspect identified by French media as Kevin T drove a grey Renault Clio through various neighborhoods and fired randomly from his car window. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh stated that people were targeted at a petrol station, a medical centre, and a playground before the gunman moved on to La Verrière. A local police chief noted the attacker used an older-style semi-automatic weapon, while Le Parisien reported the gun dates back to World War Two. Three of the injured victims remain in serious condition, including a 12-year-old girl who suffered eight gunshot wounds and required surgery.

Official Response And Arrests

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the scene in Trappes and called the incident a turning point for the nation, urging citizens not to yield to hateful ideologies. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into murder linked to a terrorist enterprise, the possession of a Category A weapon, and conspiracy with a terrorist group. The suspect was apprehended by police on the N10 road in La Verrière. Authorities confirmed he had four prior convictions that were automatically expunged and was known to local police, though he was not flagged on French intelligence security watchlists. A member of his immediate family was also taken into custody on Friday.

Context

Acts of mass violence involving firearms remain rare in France due to the country's strict gun control laws. When incidents of this nature occur, prosecutors quickly involve specialized anti-terrorism units to investigate potential ideological motives.