Panah Press | Saturday, 24 October 2026

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has described a deadly shooting in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière, in the suburbs of Paris, as a “racist terrorist attack.” In the incident, which took place on Friday, 23 October, a 26-year-old man was killed and five other people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured. France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has taken over the investigation and is examining the possibility that the victims were targeted because of their race, ethnic background or religion.

According to French officials, the suspect drove a grey Renault Clio through several locations and fired at people from inside the vehicle. The shootings lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which a health centre, a petrol station and several vehicles were also targeted. Ali Rabeh, the mayor of Trappes, said the attacker appeared to be firing at people randomly and wanted to cause as many casualties as possible.

The suspect, identified in French media reports as “Kevin T,” is a 39-year-old man. He was arrested after the shootings in the nearby town of Coignières. According to French media reports, the man had a criminal record but had not previously been listed by French intelligence agencies as a serious security threat.

France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into murder and attempted murder in connection with terrorist activity. The investigation includes examining whether the crimes were committed because of the victims’ actual or perceived membership of a particular race, ethnic group, nation or religion, as well as the possibility of a terrorist conspiracy to prepare crimes against individuals. A close family member of the suspect has also been detained for questioning.

According to French media reports, a Second World War-era Sten submachine gun and a tear gas canister were found in the suspect’s vehicle. During a search of his apartment, three gas cylinders and electrical wires connected to a timer were also discovered. Investigators have not yet released final details about the intended use of these items.

Among the injured is a 12-year-old girl who, according to local officials, was struck by eight bullets. The girl’s mother told French media that her daughter had required surgery and asked why anyone would do such a thing to a child. She also expressed concern that her daughter may have been targeted because she wore a headscarf. However, this claim has not been confirmed as the definitive motive for the attack.

The mayor of Trappes said the victims included people of African and North African backgrounds and that the attack may have been motivated by racism and Islamophobia. Macron also said during a visit to the scene that the victims had been targeted because of their skin colour or the religion attributed to them. He described the incident as a turning point in the history of the French Republic and nation, stressing that such violence has no place in the country.

Laurent Nuñez, France’s interior minister, also described the incident as a terrorist crime. However, the judicial investigation is continuing to establish the suspect’s precise motive and the details of the attack, and the final outcome of the case has not yet been announced.

#PanahPress #France #Paris #Racism #Terrorism #Islamophobia