One killed, five wounded in Paris suburb car shooting

A gunman killed one person and wounded at least five others from the driver's seat of a car in the Paris suburb of Trappes on Friday morning. The attack ended after roughly 15 minutes when officers from the anti-crime brigade stopped the vehicle. The suspect was arrested in the nearby town of Coignieres.

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

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the weapon appeared to be military-grade or automatic. He noted that the shooter fired in bursts at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time. A police source told Agence France-Presse that forensic teams examined evidence at a local gas station. Nuñez stated that five officers from the anti-crime brigade stopped the attacker.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the suspect drove through Trappes and La Verriere, "firing at random, wanting to cause a bloodbath." Rabeh said the gunman targeted passersby at three locations, including a playground. He described the low casualty count as a "miracle." Rabeh characterized the event as likely one of the first mass killings motivated by Islamophobia and racism. The mayor of La Verriere, Nicolas Dainville, confirmed that a 12-year-old girl was shot eight times and is in stable condition. Rabeh said the deceased was of African origin and that one critically wounded victim is of North African origin.

Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office said three associates of the suspect were placed in police custody Friday evening and overnight. The suspect has four prior convictions that are legally expunged. The suspect has not been publicly identified. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on X that all security and judicial resources are "fully mobilised."

The shooting occurred while France faced mass protests over the cost of living and a week of overnight curfews. Students and labor union members are scheduled to demonstrate again on Saturday. Nuñez said about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed. He promised an "absolutely uncompromising" response to violence. The Louvre and other major Paris museums will close, and Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program.