Racist attack in Trappes: suspect admits to targeting Muslims and Africans
Kévin T., 39, has admitted to deliberately targeting individuals who were Muslim or of African origin during the attack in Trappes, which left one person dead and seven wounded.
Trappes suspect appears before judge after admitting his targets
Kévin T., 39, suspect in the racist attack carried out in Trappes and La Verrière last Friday, has admitted to "deliberately targeting individuals of Muslim, African or North African type", stated national counter-terrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen on Thursday, 29 October. According to 7sur7 Faits Divers, the prosecution has requested his remand in custody and the suspect was brought before a judge during the day.
The attacker also justified his choice of location, claiming that "Trappes is a hotbed of Islamists". He expressed no regret for his actions.
One dead, seven wounded including four seriously
On Friday morning, from inside his vehicle, Kévin T. shot dead Pengo Bossio Wangi, a 26-year-old Black French national, and wounded seven other people, several of African or North African origin, in the two municipalities of the Paris suburbs. Among the wounded is an eleven-year-old child, whose vital prognosis is no longer at risk. Four victims were seriously injured; three others less so.
"Three of them are still hospitalised as I speak to you and the vital prognosis of one of them remains at risk", Olivier Christen specified, emphasising the "very careful preparation" of the attack.
Partial denial of racist nature
On Monday, the prosecutor had indicated that Kévin T. "does not contest the factual basis of the charges" but denies "the racist nature of his crimes". The investigation was opened for "murder" and "attempted murder" in connection with a terrorist enterprise, with the circumstance that the acts were committed on account of true or alleged membership in a supposed race, ethnicity, nation or specific religion.
Cannabis, cocaine and criminal history
Toxicological analyses revealed "the presence of cannabis and cocaine in his blood" at the time of the attack, according to the Pnat. His criminal record contains four previous convictions, the most recent dating from 2012. He was unknown to intelligence services.
According to a source close to the investigation, Kévin T. had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was undergoing medical treatment. His psychiatric examination carried out on Saturday evening had led to the suspension of his custody; it was resumed on Monday afternoon. A further examination conducted that same Monday established that he "did not present symptoms of acute decompensation, nor direct or indirect signs in support of hallucinatory or delusional activity", according to Olivier Christen.
Booby-trapped flat in Plaisir
Before carrying out his attack, the suspect had booby-trapped his flat located in Plaisir, in Yvelines, with gas bottles and electrical wires connected to a timer. "The functional device was of a nature to destroy the flat and damage adjacent flats", Olivier Christen had explained on Monday. Kévin T. was transferred to court shortly after midnight, once his custody ended.
Political shockwave in France
The attack provoked strong emotion throughout the country. When questioned on Wednesday on the YouTube channel HugoDécrypte about those responsible for a climate that may have favoured this act, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, spoke of "a racism of atmosphere" and stated that there were "political movements which have allowed this to become established on the far right", citing the RN and "those close to them".
Source: 7sur7 Faits Divers