Mass shooting leaves 1 dead, 4 wounded, as police investigate possible ‘racist attack’
A driver fired at “several people” crossing the road from his vehicle in the suburbs of Paris on Friday, Oct. 23, a local mayor said
NEED TO KNOW
- One person was killed and four others were wounded in a mass shooting on Friday, Oct. 23, in the suburbs of Paris
- A 39-year-man is believed to have fired shots from a vehicle at multiple locations, including a gas station and playground
- French authorities are investigating the attack, which a local mayor said may have been racially motivated
A mass shooting in the suburbs of Paris has left one person dead and four others wounded, according to local officials.
On the morning of Friday, Oct. 23, a driver fired at “several people” crossing the road from his vehicle in Trappes and La Verrière, France, Mayor Ali Rabeh wrote in a post on X.
The 39-year-old male suspect, who was arrested, is believed to have fired shots at random near a gas station, playground and medical center, Reuters reported, citing officials.
One person died as a result of the shootings. Four others were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl who La Verriere Mayor Nicolas Dainville said was in stable condition after being shot eight times, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Authorities are investigating the attack, which Rabeh said may have been racially motivated.
“[It was] objectively a racist attack, probably Islamophobic,” he claimed, per Reuters. “The people targeted today could just as easily have been my mother, my brothers or my sisters-in-law.”
In his X post, Rabeh expressed condolences to the families of the victims and shared gratitude for first responders.
“An investigation is in process to determine the exact circumstances of the shooting and the motivation of the shooter,” he said. “The city will put in place, in the next few hours, a psychological aid unit. In the meantime, we are demonstrating solidarity and prudence. Let’s take care of each other.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said in an X post that he has “deep emotion” following the shooting, which comes amid a wave of civil unrest and rioting in the city.
“Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and all the residents of Yvelines,” he wrote. “In this terrible ordeal, the Nation stands by their side. Recognition to our law enforcement forces who have already proceeded with the arrest of the perpetrator. The national antiterrorist prosecutor’s office has taken charge.”
The suspect’s identity has not been made public.
