TRAPPES: A gunman killed one person and wounded five others in a Paris suburb shooting across Trappes and La Verrière on Friday. A 12-year-old girl was among those injured.
The attacks unfolded over about 15 minutes at three locations. They included a petrol station, a medical centre and a children’s playground.
Police arrested a 39-year-old suspect less than 20 minutes after the shooting began. Authorities identified him as Kevin T. but did not release his full surname.
France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) took charge of the case. Prosecutors opened an investigation into murder linked to a terrorist enterprise.
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The inquiry includes an aggravating factor tied to race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. President Emmanuel Macron visited Trappes later on Friday.
He called the shooting a “racist terror attack”. Macron said the victims appeared to have been targeted because of their skin colour or perceived religion.
Police found a Sten-type submachine gun and tear gas in the suspect’s vehicle. Investigators also searched his home. They found three gas cylinders connected by electrical wires to a timer.
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A member of the suspect’s immediate family was also taken into police custody. One person was killed and five others were wounded in shootings near Paris before police arrested a 39-year-old suspect.
