One killed, four wounded in Trappes shooting as French prosecutors open terror investigation

A gunman opened fire from a vehicle in Trappes and neighbouring La Verrière, in the Yvelines department about 20km west of Paris, on Friday morning, killing one person and wounding four others, including a 12-year-old girl. The suspect was arrested in the nearby town of Coignières and placed in police custody.

The shooting began at around 10.30am local time (0830 GMT), and police say the gunman fired at passers-by at three separate locations, including near a playground. Local authorities warned the toll could change as emergency services were still working at the scene (CNA; Reuters via bdnews24; CGTN).

France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation into the shooting as “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise” — an investigation classification, not a conclusion; the motive remains unestablished. Prosecutors are also examining whether the attack was racially motivated, an aggravating circumstance being considered alongside the terror probe, according to reports (Times of Israel; Türkiye Today).

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the suspect fired what appeared to be “a military-grade weapon, or at least an automatic weapon”. Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV the gunman “appeared to be firing at random and seemed intent on carrying out a massacre”, adding it was “a miracle that there were not more victims” (bdnews24; AP via ETV Bharat).

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called the attack “very serious” on X, confirming the suspect’s arrest and saying security forces were fully mobilised (Times of Israel).