One killed, five hurt after 15-minute drive-by in Trappes

The shooting in Trappes changed the daily routine for residents of the Paris suburb on Friday morning. One person died and at least five others were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times. The attacker fired from a moving vehicle for just under 15 minutes, targeting people in public spaces including a playground. Authorities now treat the incident as a racially motivated act of terrorism.

The violence occurred against a backdrop of existing social unrest. France has recently endured mass protests over the cost of living and a week of overnight curfews. Students, labor union members, and Yellow Vest activists were already preparing to demonstrate again on Saturday. This new attack forced officials to escalate security measures significantly.

The timeline of events began at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time. A police source told Agence France-Presse that the shooter fired in bursts from his car. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the weapon appeared to be military-grade or automatic. Five officers from the anti-crime brigade ended the attack. The suspect was subsequently arrested in the nearby town of Coignières.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the suspect drove through Trappes and neighboring La Verrière, firing at random. He described the event as a probable attempted mass killing motivated by Islamophobia and racism. Rabeh stated that the gunman targeted passersby at three distinct locations. He called it a miracle that the casualty count was not higher.

President Emmanuel Macron characterized the event as a premeditated racist terror attack. After meeting with officials and residents, he said the victims were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion. He added that there is no place for such acts in France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X that all security and judicial resources are fully mobilized.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. They are examining whether the victims were targeted based on race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office placed three associates of the suspect in police custody Friday evening and overnight. The suspect has four prior convictions, all of which were legally expunged.

In response to the threat, Nuñez announced that about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed. Elite units will guard public buildings, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. Major Paris museums, including the Louvre, will close for the weekend. Art Basel Paris has also canceled its program due to safety concerns.