OMM Newsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called a deadly shooting in Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris, a racist attack and a “turning point” for the country.
According to AnewZ, one person was killed and at least four injured when shots were fired from a car at three locations in the Yvelines department on Friday morning. A 12-year-old girl was among those injured.
During a visit to Trappes, where he met the mayor, emergency responders and residents, Macron said the incident marked a turning point for the French Republic. He said the attack was carried out “on the basis of racist ideology” and warned that “racism is taking hold in public discourse.”
“We will not back down, and there is no reason for us to back down. The Republic will stand firm,” Macron said.
Suspect arrested
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the attacker fired from a car during a shooting that lasted about 15 minutes, using a weapon resembling “a weapon of war, or in any case an automatic weapon.” The minister said the gunman had “clearly” committed a terrorist crime.
Police arrested the suspect in nearby Coignières. The 39-year-old man, identified by French media as Kevin T., was already known to police for minor offences. According to a police source cited by Le JDD, one of his family members was also arrested on Thursday.
France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Investigators are also examining whether the victims were targeted because of their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. The domestic intelligence agency DGSI is also involved in the investigation.
According to a police source cited by French media, a 26-year-old man was killed in Trappes. Three men, aged 21, 29 and 48, were seriously injured. The condition of the 12-year-old girl injured in La Verrière has stabilised, according to the town’s mayor.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman “appeared to be firing at random” and that it “gave the impression he intended to carry out a massacre.” He called the incident a “racist, possibly Islamophobic attack” and described the fact that there were no more victims as a “miracle.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called the shooting “very serious” and said all resources had been mobilised.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith described the incident as a “suspected Islamophobic terrorist attack.” Politicians from across the political spectrum, including former President François Hollande, National Rally leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, and Gabriel Attal, expressed support for those affected and called for a swift investigation.
The attack came amid a week of violent protests in France and ahead of new demonstrations planned for Saturday.
