Gunman opens fire from car near Paris: one dead, several wounded, anti-terror prosecutors take over
A man shooting from his car killed one person and wounded at least four in Trappes, west of Paris. The suspect was arrested and France's anti-terror prosecutors are investigating.
One person has been killed and at least four others injured in a gun attack on Friday morning in Trappes, a town in the Yvelines department south-west of Paris. France's National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) has taken over the case, which it is treating as murder linked to a terrorist enterprise.
According to the mayor of Trappes, Ali Rabeh, the attacker fired from his vehicle at people he came across as he drove through several neighbourhoods, apparently trying to cause as many casualties as possible. A health centre, a petrol station and several cars were hit. French media say the number of injured could be higher and that a 12-year-old child may be among them; the town of La Verrière was also reported to be affected.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called the events "very serious" and said the suspect had been arrested and placed in custody. Local media report that he was detained in nearby Coignières, that he is 39 years old and that he was known to the police but not to the intelligence services. A police official said he used an older semi-automatic weapon capable of firing bursts.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the attack looked like a murderous rampage but that the motive was still unclear. The prosecutors' investigation also covers possession of a Category A (military-grade) weapon and criminal conspiracy with a terrorist group. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his "deep emotion" and said the nation stood by the victims.