Macron calls Trappes drive-by shooting 'racist terrorist attack'
One killed and five wounded, including a 12-year-old girl, in a drive-by shooting in Trappes and La Verrière west of Paris; anti-terror prosecutors are investigating.
The story in focus
A gunman opened fire from a car in Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris, on 23 October 2026, killing one person and wounding five, including a 12-year-old girl. President Emmanuel Macron called it a racist terrorist attack. Anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating whether victims were targeted for their race or religion.
- One person was killed and five wounded, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times, in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière in Yvelines.
- A 39-year-old suspect named by prosecutors as Kevin T was detained after the roughly 15-minute attack; a family member was also taken into custody.
- Macron called the shooting a racist, terrorist attack and said victims were targeted for their skin colour or religion.
- The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 70,000 officers would be deployed across France ahead of planned Saturday protests.
How the attack unfolded
The gunman drove through Trappes and La Verrière in Yvelines, about 20km west of Paris, on the morning of Friday 23 October 2026, firing from his car over about 15 minutes. Officials said he shot at a petrol station, a medical centre and a children's playground. Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the attacker fired at random with the apparent aim of causing mass casualties.
The suspect, a 39-year-old named by anti-terrorism prosecutors as Kevin T, was stopped by police in his car in La Verrière. Authorities said he carried a Sten submachine gun and teargas grenades, and had rigged his home with gas canisters and electrical wires linked to a timer. A member of his immediate family was arrested.
Victims and official response
The person killed was described by Rabeh as of African origin, and one wounded victim as of North African origin. La Verrière mayor Nicolas Dainville told AFP that two wounded cleaners at a school were of African origin. Officials said the medical condition of the five wounded was not stable.
Macron visited Trappes that evening and called the act premeditated. He said racism had become part of ambient discourse in France and urged unity. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office is investigating whether the gunman targeted victims' real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said all resources were mobilised and described the case as a terrorist crime.
Security ahead of protests
The shooting came days after unrest in which public buildings were burned, shops looted and at least 2,400 people arrested, according to the Guardian. Nunez said 70,000 officers, helicopters, armoured vehicles and water cannon would be deployed on Saturday, when protests over living costs and school conditions are expected. Many demonstrations have been banned.
What are French prosecutors investigating after the Trappes shooting?
The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise and is examining whether the gunman targeted victims because of their real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
Sources & further reading
- Macron condemns racism after one killed in ‘terrorist’ shooting near Paris ↗The Guardian
- One killed as Elysee calls Paris area shooting ‘racist, terrorist attack’ ↗Al Jazeera
- Deadly shooting near Paris is a 'racist terrorist attack', Macron says ↗BBC News
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