Pro-government says Paris-area shooting was an apparent terrorist attack

Pro-government says Paris-area shooting was an apparent terrorist attack
A shooting at three locations in Trappes and La Verrière, about 24 kilometers southwest of central Paris, left one person dead and several others injured. The attack unfolded on streets between the two towns, according to France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin. Authorities initially reported one death and four injuries, while later accounts said five people were wounded.

The gunman reportedly fired from a vehicle at around 10:30 a.m., using what officials described as a military or automatic weapon. Darmanin called it “obviously a terrorist crime,” while the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office continued its investigation.

Local officials described a chaotic and potentially larger massacre. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the attacker appeared to have “fired randomly and seemed determined to carry out a massacre,” adding that it was a “real miracle” that more people were not killed.

Among the injured was reportedly a 12-year-old girl who was shot eight times and remained in critical condition. The authorities had not publicly confirmed the identities or ages of all victims at the time of the reports.

Police arrested a 39-year-old suspect, identified in reports as Kevin T., at the end of the shooting spree. Three other people—including family members and a friend—were also detained. Investigators were examining toxicology results and reportedly found three gas cylinders in the suspect’s apartment, allegedly intended to cause an explosion.

President Emmanuel Macron said he was “deeply shocked” and expressed solidarity with the victims. The shooting came as France prepared for nationwide protests over the cost of living and schools, with about 70,000 security personnel expected to be deployed. The terrorism inquiry remains ongoing.