One dead in suspected racist attack near Paris

The Paris anti-terrorism prosecution announced on Saturday that three additional individuals have been detained in connection with the deadly shooting spree in the western suburbs of Paris earlier this week. These arrests were carried out among members of the suspect’s family and friend circles during the night and late Friday evening. One person from the suspect’s immediate environment had already been placed in custody on Friday itself. The authorities declined to provide further details regarding the identities of the newly detained individuals at this stage. They did not confirm French media reports suggesting that the mother of the 39-year-old main suspect was among those arrested. The primary suspect, identified in media reports as Kevin T., remained in police custody following an initial interrogation early Saturday morning. His detention period was extended after officials assessed his health status as compatible with continued custody. Medical teams are currently conducting blood tests to determine his toxicological profile. The man was apprehended shortly after the attacks in the nearby town of Coignières. Police stated he was in possession of a submachine gun and tear gas grenades at the time of his arrest. Investigations revealed that the suspect had prepared a trap device at his residence, likely intended to explode upon the arrival of law enforcement officers. A search of his home also uncovered three gas canisters. At the time of his capture, he was found holding a semi-automatic weapon, tear gas grenades, and a white powder reportedly identified as cocaine. The violence unfolded on Friday morning around 10:30 a.m. in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière, located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Paris in the Yvelines department. The attacker opened fire from inside a vehicle, using an automatic weapon to shoot indiscriminately at pedestrians on open streets. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the sequence of shootings lasted nearly 15 minutes before five security officers managed to subdue the gunman. Three separate shooting incidents occurred across the two municipalities. Witnesses described the sound of the gunfire as resembling that of a Kalashnikov assault rifle. One witness noted hearing two distinct bursts of fire separated by twenty seconds while working nearby. One person died in the attack, a 26-year-old man of African descent. Five others were wounded, with three sustaining serious injuries. Among the victims was a 12-year-old girl in La Verrière who sustained eight gunshot wounds. Her condition was later described as stable. Two other injured men, aged 29 and 49, were transported to hospitals in the Paris region. Mayor Ali Rabeh of Trappes stated that the deceased was of African origin and that one critically injured victim was of Maghrebi origin. He characterized the incident as objectively a racially motivated attack, likely with an Islamophobic connotation. Mayor Nicolas Dainville of La Verrière confirmed that two of the injured in his municipality were cleaning staff of African appearance. President Emmanuel Macron visited Trappes on Friday evening, where he condemned the incident as a racist terrorist attack. He described the event as a turning point in the life of the Republic and the nation, noting it marked the first instance of such a random racial killing. Macron expressed solidarity with the victims and residents, urging the public to resist ideologies taking root. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu labeled the case very serious on social media and promised the mobilization of all state resources. Interior Minister Nuñez declared the act clearly a terrorist crime. Minister Aurore Bergé, responsible for combating discrimination, stated that no discriminatory speech could be tolerated, warning that words lead to violence. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The charges include attempted murder based on actual or supposed membership in a race, ethnicity, nation, or specific religion. Additional charges involve possession of Category A weapons, which includes automatic firearms, and participation in a terrorist criminal association. The suspect, a resident of Plaisir just a few kilometers from the crime scenes, had four previous convictions that had been automatically expunged. While known to police, he was not listed on intelligence agency databases as a serious threat to national security. The attack occurred against a backdrop of heightened social tension in France. It took place on the eve of new protests against high living costs and systemic grievances. Large demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of participants had recently taken place, marked by unprecedented disturbances. Security forces remained on high alert to prevent a recurrence of severe riots similar to those seen over the preceding weekend. The atmosphere in major cities had become tense, with police presence increased significantly due to fears of further unrest.