One Killed, Five Injured in Suspected Racist Terror Attack Near Paris

A gunman killed one person and injured five others, including a 12-year-old girl, in shootings Friday across Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris. French authorities are investigating the violence as a suspected racially motivated terrorist attack.

The assailant drove through the two communities and opened fire at three locations—a petrol station, a medical centre and a children’s playground—during an attack lasting about 15 minutes, according to Al Jazeera. Police arrested a 39-year-old suspect identified as Kevin T.

Local lawmaker Laurent Mazaury said the suspect told police he wanted to “kill foreigners.” French media identified the man killed as Pengo Bassio Wangi and reported that a woman and a 12-year-old girl wearing headscarves were among those wounded. The girl’s mother said she was shot eight times and underwent surgery. Prosecutors said three of the five injured people were in critical condition.

Investigators recovered a firearm and tear gas grenades from the suspect’s car, Al Jazeera reported. France 24 also reported that three gas cylinders rigged to a timer were found in his apartment. A member of the suspect’s immediate family circle was taken into custody while prosecutors investigated possible links to a terrorist group.

President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he called a “racist terrorist attack” and described it as a turning point for France. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the investigation was continuing but called the shooting “clearly a terrorist crime.”