Paris Suburb Gunman Charged After Fatal Rampage
President Macron labeled the incident a racist terrorist attack after a suspect shot one person dead and five others in Trappes and La Verrière.
By Ayanda Novak ·
One person died and five others were wounded during a fifteen-minute shooting spree in two western suburbs of Paris on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the violence as a racist terrorist attack. He stated that the event represented a turning point for the Republic and noted that it was the first instance of a random racial killing of this magnitude in the country.
The attacker, identified by media as Kevin T, a 39-year-old man, drove a grey Renault Clio through Trappes and the neighboring town of La Verrière. Witnesses reported that he fired at individuals appearing to be of migrant origin. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case as murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Charges also include possession of a Category A weapon and conspiracy with a terrorist group.
Three of the five wounded individuals remain in serious condition. Among them is a twelve-year-old girl who suffered eight gunshot wounds and required surgery. Her mother told broadcaster RTL that the child was wearing a headscarf and wondered if that feature made her a target. She emphasized that the girl was born in Trappes and had the right to live in France.
Prosecutors stated that the suspect had four prior convictions that had been automatically expunged from his record. Local media reported that while he was known to police, he was not tracked by intelligence services and was not listed as a serious threat to national security. A member of his immediate family circle was also detained on Friday.
Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman fired randomly while hoping to cause as many casualties as possible. He quoted the mayor as saying the attacker wanted to cause carnage. Victims were targeted at a petrol station, a medical center, and a playground before the shooter moved to La Verrière, where police detained him on a main road.
A local police chief told BFMTV that the suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon. The newspaper Le Parisien reported that the firearm dated back to World War Two.
Source: BBC News
