French authorities investigate deadly Trappes shootings as terrorism attack
One person was killed and five others wounded, three seriously, in a series of drive-by shootings in Trappes and nearby towns south-west of Paris. French authorities are investigating the attack as terrorism, though the suspect’s motive has not been established.
The shootings lasted almost 15 minutes on Friday and struck places including a petrol station, a medical centre and a playground; a 12-year-old girl was among those wounded. The 39-year-old suspect was arrested nearby and was known to police, but not to intelligence services, according to local media. Prosecutors are investigating suspected murder linked to a terrorist enterprise, including the possibility that victims were targeted because of their perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
In short
- One person died and five were wounded in shootings near Paris.
- A 39-year-old suspect has been arrested.
- Prosecutors are investigating possible terrorist and racist motives.
Explained simply
Trappes is a town south-west of Paris, in an area that also includes several nearby communities. French authorities can investigate an act as terrorism when they suspect it may be linked to a terrorist purpose, but that does not by itself establish the attacker’s motive.
The investigation is examining whether the victims were chosen because of their perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. These are possible lines of inquiry, not confirmed explanations; investigators will need to establish what happened and why.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Deadly shooting near Paris investigated as ‘crime of terrorism’, minister says”.