Deadly shooting near Paris investigated as 'crime of terrorism', minister says
Key Points:
- A gun attack in the Paris suburb of Trappes and nearby La Verrière resulted in one death and five injuries, including a 12-year-old girl, with three victims seriously wounded; authorities are treating the incident as terrorism.
- The attacker conducted a 15-minute drive-by shooting spree, firing randomly from a grey Renault Clio at multiple locations such as a petrol station, medical centre, and playground before being arrested on the main N10 road.
- The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office classified the case as "murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise," highlighting possible motives linked to real or perceived membership of a particular race, ethnicity, nation, or religion.
- Witnesses and officials noted the victims included individuals of African and North African descent, and the mother of the injured girl, who wore a headscarf, questioned whether her daughter's attire was a factor in the attack.
- The suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon reportedly dating back to World War Two, and the mayor described the attacker's intent as causing maximum casualties and carnage.