Shootings in Paris leave one dead and five injured; suspect arrested
A man opened fire on several occasions on Friday in Trappes and La Verrière, near Paris, killing one person and injuring five. Authorities are investigating the incidents as a suspected terrorist attack with racist motivation.
Shootings in the Paris suburbs
According to elconfidencial.com, a man fired shots at civilians in the Paris suburbs on Friday morning, leaving one person dead and five injured. The incidents occurred around 10:30 hours in the municipalities of Trappes and La Verrière, situated approximately 30 kilometres south-west of the French capital. The alleged perpetrator was arrested in the town of Coignières.
France's National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor has taken over the investigation. The toll confirms one death and five seriously injured, among them a 12-year-old girl who sustained eight bullet wounds and was successfully stabilised medically. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that three shootings occurred and that the suspect used an automatic weapon.
Profile of the detainee and findings
The suspect, identified as Kévin T., was born in 1987 and had no record of radicalism, although he did have four previous convictions already served. The Prosecutor also arrested a direct relative of the suspect. At the time of arrest, the alleged perpetrator had not yet been interrogated.
In the suspect's vehicle, a Renault Clio, investigators found a Sten-type submachine gun and a tear-gas canister. Upon arrival at his home in Plaisir, law enforcement discovered an improvised explosive device rigged as a trap with a detonator: it consisted of three gas cylinders and electrical cables connected to a timer.
Investigation as a terrorist attack
The Prosecutor opened proceedings for murder and attempted murder with the possible aggravating factor that the victims were selected based on their actual or supposed membership of a race, ethnicity, nation or religion. The investigation also covers offences related to the possession of weapons and terrorist association for the purpose of preparing crimes against persons.
The Counter-Terrorism Directorate of the Police (SDAT) is directing the inquiry in coordination with intelligence services. The Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's involvement reflects that authorities are examining the possible terrorist motivation behind the attacks.
Testimonies from local authorities
The mayor of La Verrière, Nicolas Dainville, reported that three people were injured in his municipality. The other two injured are men aged 29 and 49, transported to hospitals in the Paris region. Dainville indicated that the alleged perpetrator appeared to have selected his victims on racial grounds, particularly because they were Black individuals.
The deputy for the Yvelines department, Laurent Mazaury, stated that in initial interrogations the detainee "did not hide that he wanted to kill people he considered to be of foreign origin" and that he used a restored Second World War weapon.
Political reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the "racist terrorist" attack marks "a turning point in the country" and attributed it to the "climate of instability being created by certain discourse".
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the incidents as "very serious matters" and confirmed that the National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor was examining the case.
The mayor of Trappes, Ali Rabeh, stated that the shootings "constitute the first attempted mass crime with Islamophobic connotation" and added that they are being encouraged by the "political climate". Without naming any party, he denounced "ministers, presidential candidates, deputies" who "claim that all of society's ills are the fault of Arab-Muslims", in a clear allusion to far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
The mayor emphasised that the perpetrator could have caused an even greater disaster had it not been for the swift action of law enforcement.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)