Macron: Trappes Shooting Was Premeditated Racism

France has experienced a surge in public unrest, but a new incident in the Paris region has intensified the national anxiety. A gunman driving a gray Renault Clio opened fire on pedestrians in Trappes on Friday morning, killing one person and wounding five others.

President Emmanuel Macron characterized the event as a racist terror attack. He stated that the victims were selected because of their skin color or perceived religion. Macron added that the suspect's remarks indicated the attack was premeditated. The President met with local officials and residents following the incident.

Local time was approximately 10:30 a.m. when the shooter began firing in bursts from the moving vehicle. The attack spanned two towns, Trappes and La Verriere. Ali Rabeh, the mayor of Trappes, said the driver targeted people at three different spots. One of these locations was a playground. Rabeh described the event as a probable first mass killing attempt driven by Islamophobia and racism.

The Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, reported that the weapon appeared to be automatic or military-grade. He noted that the shooting lasted under 15 minutes. Five officers from the anti-crime brigade ended the sequence of shots. The suspect was apprehended in Coignieres, a town near the scene.

Initial reports listed four injured people. Rabeh later corrected the count to five. Three of the victims are in critical condition. A 12-year-old girl was shot eight times. The mayor of La Verriere, Nicolas Dainville, confirmed the girl is in stable condition. The deceased victim was of African origin. One critically injured person is of North African origin.

Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder linked to a terrorist enterprise. They are examining if the victims were targeted by real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. Three associates of the suspect were detained Friday evening. The suspect has four prior convictions that have been legally erased. He has not been publicly named.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated on X that all security and judicial resources are mobilized. Macron said the nation is standing with the victims. The shooting occurred during a week of overnight curfews and cost-of-living protests. Seventy thousand police and gendarmes are deployed for demonstrations expected on Saturday. The Louvre and other major Paris museums will remain closed. Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program.