French President Emmanuel Macron called a shooting spree in the Paris suburbs as “a racist terror attack”, saying the victims were targeted because of their skin colour or perceived religion. One person was killed and at least five others, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in the attacks.The gunman opened fire at three locations in Trappes and La Verrière, about 30 kilometres west of Paris, over a period of around 15 minutes, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. Three of the injured suffered life-threatening injuries.“These people were targeted because of their skin colour or perceived religion, and for no other reason,” Macron said after meeting officials and residents in Trappes. “There is no place for this in France.”Macron also said the suspect’s statements indicated that the attack had been planned in advance.
Suspect arrested within 20 minutes
Police arrested the suspect less than 20 minutes after the shooting began. France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office has taken charge of the investigation.The suspect has been identified as Kévin T, born in 1987. Authorities have not released his full surname. He had four previous convictions, which had been automatically expunged under French law, the prosecutor’s office said.Investigators found a Sten-type submachine gun and a canister of tear gas inside his car. A search of his apartment also uncovered three gas cylinders and electrical wires connected to a timer, which authorities said had been arranged as a trap.A member of the suspect’s immediate family was also taken into police custody on Friday afternoon.The person killed was a French man born in 2000. The condition of the injured victims had not stabilised by Friday evening, the prosecutor’s office said.Nuñez praised the five officers from the anti-crime brigade who stopped the suspect. “I commend them for their swift response,” he said.
Authorities investigate suspected racist motive
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman appeared to have fired at passersby at several locations, including a playground. He suggested the victims may have been targeted because of their apparent African origin.“This is probably one of the first attempted mass killings motivated by Islamophobia and racism,” he told reporters.Aurore Bergé, France’s minister for gender equality and the fight against discrimination, said the 12-year-old girl had been very seriously injured.“If a racist motive is established, I hope that the whole nation will stand alongside the residents of Trappes, La Verrière, and the victims. We cannot tolerate even the slightest racist remark in the French Republic,” she said.The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation into several offences, including “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise with the aggravating circumstance that the act was committed on account of the victim’s actual or perceived membership of a particular race, ethnic group, nationality or religion”.The attack comes as France prepares for another day of protests against the rising cost of living on Saturday.Authorities have announced tighter security measures following violent unrest last week. Major museums are set to close, while the government plans to deploy a significantly larger security presence to prevent further violence.
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