Trappes Attack: Gunman Kills One in Racially Motivated Drive-By
Macron labels the Trappes shooting a premeditated racist terror plot as three more suspects are held and museums close for safety.
By Kwame Silva ·
A gunman fired from a moving vehicle through the Paris suburbs of Trappes and La Verriere on Friday, killing one person and wounding five others. President Emmanuel Macron declared the incident a racist terror attack, stating that victims were chosen specifically for their skin color or perceived religion.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that the assault began at 10:30 a.m. local time and lasted nearly 15 minutes. Five officers from the anti-crime brigade ended the shooting before the suspect was arrested in the nearby town of Coignieres. Nuñez identified the weapon as likely military-grade or automatic.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the driver fired at random, targeting passersby at three distinct locations, including a playground. Rabeh described the event as a probable first mass killing driven by Islamophobia and racism. He noted that three of the five wounded are critically injured, while a 12-year-old girl, shot eight times, remains in stable condition.
Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder connected to a terrorist enterprise. They are examining whether the victims were targeted based on their real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office placed three additional individuals from the suspect's family and social circle into police custody on Friday evening. The suspect, who has four prior expunged convictions, has not been publicly named.
The attack occurred during a period of national tension marked by cost-of-living protests and overnight curfews. Approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes are deployed for demonstrations expected Saturday. Interior Minister Nuñez promised an uncompromising response to any violence or vandalism.
Major cultural institutions in Paris adjusted their schedules in response to the security situation. The Louvre and other major museums closed their doors, and Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program due to safety concerns.
