Macron Labels Trappes Drive-By Racist Terror After One Killed

The attack lasted 15 minutes, a duration Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cited as the precise window before officers intervened. During that span, a gunman fired from a vehicle in Trappes, a suburb west of Paris, killing one person and wounding at least five others.

Police reported that the shooter used an automatic, military-grade weapon. He fired in bursts from a gray Renault Clio at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time on Friday. The vehicle traveled through Trappes and the neighboring town of La Verrière, targeting passersby at three distinct locations. One of these sites was a playground.

President Emmanuel Macron characterized the incident as a racist terror attack. Speaking after meeting with local officials and residents, Macron stated that the suspect's comments indicated the attack was premeditated. "These people were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion, and for no other reason," Macron said. He added, "There is no place for this in France."

Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the suspect drove through the area firing at random with the intent to cause a bloodbath. Rabeh described the event as likely the first attempted mass killing motivated by Islamophobia and racism. He called the low casualty count a miracle, noting that five people were injured, three of whom are in critical condition. La Verrière Mayor Nicolas Dainville specified that a 12-year-old girl was shot eight times and remains in stable condition.

The suspect was arrested in the nearby town of Coignières. Five officers from the anti-crime brigade ended the shooting. Prosecutors have opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. They are examining whether the victims were targeted based on their real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office placed three additional people from the suspect's family and social circle into police custody on Friday evening. The suspect, who has four prior expunged convictions, has not been publicly identified.

The shooting occurred while France faced ongoing civil unrest. The country has experienced mass protests over the cost of living and a week of overnight curfews. Demonstrations by students, labor unions, and Yellow Vest activists were scheduled for Saturday. Minister Nuñez announced that 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed. He promised an absolutely uncompromising response to any violence, looting, or vandalism.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated on social media that the case is very serious and that all security and judicial resources are fully mobilized. In response to safety concerns, major Paris museums, including the Louvre, closed their doors. Art Basel Paris also canceled its weekend program.