Suspect charged with terror after Trappes shooting

A 39-year-old man named Kevin T is facing terrorism charges after a 15-minute drive-by shooting in the Paris suburbs left one person dead and five others injured. The attack occurred on Friday in Trappes and the neighboring town of La Verrière. The suspect was arrested on the main road in La Verrière after driving through several neighborhoods in a grey Renault Clio.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the scene and called the incident a racist terrorist attack. He stated that victims were targeted based on skin color or religion. Macron described the event as a turning point for the nation, noting it was the first time France had experienced a random racial killing of this magnitude. He urged citizens to resist ideologies taking root in society.

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The probe also covers possession of a Category A weapon and conspiracy to prepare crimes against persons. The weapon used was an older-style semi-automatic firearm, which Le Parisien reported dated back to World War Two. The suspect had four previous convictions that had been automatically expunged from his record.

Three of the wounded are in serious condition, including a 12-year-old girl. Her mother told broadcaster RTL that her daughter suffered eight gunshot wounds and required surgery. The girl was wearing a headscarf when attacked. Her mother questioned why a child born in Trappes was targeted, stating her daughter has the right to live and make her life in France. A member of the suspect's immediate family was also taken into custody on Friday.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman fired randomly while hoping to cause as many casualties as possible. He noted the shooter wanted to cause carnage. People were targeted at a petrol station, a medical center, and a playground in Trappes before the attacker moved to La Verrière. Local police confirmed the suspect was known to law enforcement but not to intelligence services. The prosecutor's office stated he was not on a list of serious security threats.