Macron denounces deadly Trappes shooting as racist terror
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A shooting in Trappes, southwest of Paris, left one person dead and five injured on Friday after a man opened fire from a car before being arrested in nearby Coignieres. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Trappes, and the Elysee called the incident a “racist terrorist attack”, while anti-terrorism prosecutors opened a murder investigation linked to a terrorist enterprise
Key Points
- French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the shooting happened at about 10:30 a.m. local time in Trappes, in the Yvelines department southwest of Paris
- The dead toll stood at one, with five wounded, including a 12-year-old girl who was shot eight times and was seriously hurt but stable.
- Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman drove through Trappes and neighbouring La Verriere, firing at random and seeking to cause a bloodbath
- Prosecutors are examining whether victims were targeted for their real or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion; most victims were from foreign backgrounds
- Police arrested a 39-year-old suspect in Coignieres and found a submachine gun, tear-gas grenades, and a booby-trapped flat with gas canisters and wires
Why It Matters
The case has rapidly escalated from a shooting inquiry into a national anti-terrorism investigation, indicating that French authorities see possible ideological and hate-crime motives behind the attack. For Hong Kong readers, it is a reminder that security risks in major European urban areas can shift quickly, with official assessments and public safety responses evolving within hours.