A gunman killed one person and wounded four others in a shooting outside Paris on Friday, French authorities said. The injured included a 12-year-old girl. Police arrested the suspect, while France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office took over the investigation.
The shooting occurred in Trappes, a town west of Paris, in the Yvelines department. According to local officials, the gunman fired from a moving car. Authorities have not confirmed the motive behind the attack or identified the victims publicly in the available report.
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French President Emmanuel Macron expressed sorrow over the fatal shooting in a post on X. He also thanked law enforcement agencies for arresting the suspect. Macron confirmed that the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office had assumed responsibility for the case.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh told French broadcaster BFMTV that the gunman appeared to fire randomly. He said the suspect seemed intent on carrying out a massacre. Rabeh added that the vehicle travelled along a road connecting Trappes with neighbouring La Verrière.
The wounded included a 12-year-old girl, according to reports. Broadcaster BFM reported that she had suffered eight gunshot wounds. Officials have not provided further details about the conditions of the other injured people.
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The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said investigators would examine whether the shooting constituted a terrorist act. They will also investigate possible racial or religious motives. Authorities have not announced any conclusions regarding the suspect’s intentions or the circumstances that led to the shooting.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in France following violent nationwide protests last Saturday. Officials were also preparing for the possibility of further unrest during the coming weekend. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances of the attack and determine whether terrorism or other motives played a role.