Paris Shooting: 1 Killed, 12-Year-Old Girl Among 5 Wounded as France Opens Terrorism Probe

Paris Shooting: 1 Killed, 12-Year-Old Girl Among 5 Wounded as France Opens Terrorism Probe

Photo: Le Parisien

One person was killed and five others wounded, including a 12-year-old girl, when a gunman opened fire from a car in the Paris suburbs on Friday — and France's anti-terrorism prosecutors have taken over the case. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez called it "clearly a terrorist crime."

The rampage lasted about 15 minutes across the towns of Trappes and La Verrière in the Yvelines district west of Paris. The 39-year-old suspect fired an automatic weapon at a petrol station, a medical centre and a children's playground before police arrested him. Broadcaster BFM reported the 12-year-old girl was hit eight times and is in a serious condition.

Prosecutors are investigating whether the attack was racially or religiously motivated. Ali Rabeh, the mayor of Trappes, called it "objectively a racist attack, probably Islamophobic," noting two of the victims were of African and North African origin. The shooting comes days after violent nationwide protests and ahead of expected demonstrations this weekend. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the suspect was in custody; Le Parisien reported he was armed with a World War II-era submachine gun and his apartment had been rigged with gas canisters.

Source: Reuters — read more

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