Deadly Paris shooting investigated as terrorism, minister says
Attack spanned two suburbs
A gun attack in the Paris suburbs left one person dead and five wounded, three of them seriously, and is being investigated as a terrorist crime. The rampage lasted almost 15 minutes and spanned two towns, Trappes and La Verrière, before the suspected attacker was arrested. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told reporters in Trappes, “It’s clearly a terrorist crime, that’s what [the prosecutor] has said.” The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office said the incident appeared to be “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise.”
Witnesses said the gunman drove a grey Renault Clio through several neighbourhoods, firing from his vehicle at people he encountered. Mayor Ali Rabeh said the man “fired randomly” and seemed intent on causing “as many casualties as possible… he wanted to cause carnage.” Targets included a petrol station, a medical centre, and a playground.
A 12-year-old girl was among the wounded. Rabeh said the dead victim was of African origin and one critically wounded person was of North African descent. He described the attack as having a “racist, probably Islamophobic overtone,” though the anti-terror prosecutor urged caution regarding victims’ identities.
The suspect, a 39-year-old known to police but not to intelligence services, was detained in Coignières, according to local media. Police said he used an older-style semi-automatic weapon, possibly dating back to World War Two. The investigation includes possession of a Category A weapon and conspiracy with a terrorist group.
