France Mobilizes 70,000 Officers After Trappes Attack

A gunman firing from a moving vehicle killed one person and wounded five others in the Paris suburb of Trappes on Friday morning. The attack lasted less than 15 minutes before five officers from the anti-crime brigade stopped the shooter. The suspect was arrested in the nearby town of Coignieres.

President Emmanuel Macron labeled the incident a racist terror attack. He stated that the victims were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion. Macron said the suspect's statements indicated the plot was premeditated and declared that there is no place for such violence in France.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the weapon as military-grade or automatic. He noted that the attack occurred during a period of high public tension. France has recently experienced mass protests over the cost of living and a week of overnight curfews. Demonstrations by students, labor unions, and Yellow Vest activists are scheduled for Saturday.

To manage the security risks, Nuñez ordered the deployment of approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes. Elite units will guard public buildings, while helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons provide additional support. Major Paris museums, including the Louvre, will close their doors. Art Basel Paris has also canceled its weekend program due to safety concerns.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the suspect drove through Trappes and the neighboring town of La Verriere, firing at random. He said the gunman targeted passersby at three locations, including a playground. Rabeh described the event as a likely first attempted mass killing motivated by Islamophobia and racism. He called the low casualty count a miracle.

La Verriere mayor Nicolas Dainville said a 12-year-old girl was shot eight times. She is currently in stable condition. Rabeh confirmed that three of the five wounded victims are in critical condition. The deceased victim was of African origin, and one critically wounded person is of North African origin.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office placed three people from the suspect's family and friend circle in custody on Friday evening. The suspect has four prior convictions that are legally expunged. The individual has not been publicly identified.