Trappes Gunman Charged With Terrorism After 15-Minute Drive-By

In the western suburbs of Paris, the violence lasted 15 minutes before the gunman was detained, leaving one person dead and five others injured. Among the wounded is a 12-year-old girl from Trappes who sustained eight gunshot wounds and required surgery. Her mother told RTL that her daughter was wearing a headscarf and questioned if that marked her for attack, stating, "She's a child who was born in France, in Trappes. She has the right to live in France, to make her life in France."

The incident unfolded on October 23, beginning in Trappes and continuing into the neighboring town of La Verrière. Witnesses described a grey Renault Clio moving through several neighborhoods. The shooter fired at people near a petrol station, a medical center, and a playground in Trappes before moving to La Verrière. A police union official said he was stopped on the main road there. Ali Rabeh, the mayor of Trappes, noted the gunman fired randomly, aiming for maximum casualties. "He wanted to cause carnage," Rabeh said.

Presidents and prosecutors have moved quickly to frame the event. President Emmanuel Macron visited the scene and labeled the incident a "racist terrorist attack." He described it as a "turning point in the life of our Republic and our nation," claiming it was the first time France had seen a random racial killing of this type. Macron urged citizens not to "give an inch" against ideologies taking root.

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) has charged the suspect, identified by media as Kevin T, age 39, with murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The investigation also covers the possession of a Category A weapon and conspiracy to prepare crimes against persons. PNAT stated the suspect had four previous convictions that were automatically expunged. He was known to police but not to intelligence services and was not on a list of serious security threats. A member of his immediate family was also taken into custody on Friday.

Local police told BFMTV that the suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon. Le Parisien reported the firearm dated back to World War Two. Three of the five wounded remain in serious condition. The precise motive has not yet been fully established, though prosecutors allege a racial target. The case is now in the hands of the anti-terrorism court, with the suspect in custody pending trial preparations.

The shooting has drawn attention to the security of suburban areas where communities of migrant origin live. The grey Clio was found near the scene in La Verrière. The victim's family and local officials are demanding answers about how a man with a criminal record, though expunged, carried a military-grade weapon. The PNAT continues its investigation into the weapon's provenance and the suspect's network.