Terror Charges Filed After 15-Minute Shooting in Paris Suburbs

One person died and five others were wounded in a 15-minute shooting spree in the western suburbs of Paris on Friday.

The suspect, identified by French media as Kevin T, is 39 years old. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) indicted him for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The case also includes charges for possessing a Category A weapon and conspiring with a terrorist group. Category A weapons include military-grade arms and guns capable of firing in bursts.

President Emmanuel Macron visited the scene and described the incident as a racist terrorist attack. He stated that victims were targeted because of their skin color or religion. Macron called the event a turning point for the Republic, noting it was the first time France had seen a random racial killing of this kind. He urged the public to resist ideologies taking root.

The attacker drove a grey Renault Clio through several neighborhoods. Witnesses reported he fired at a petrol station, a medical center, and a playground in Trappes. He then moved to the neighboring town of La Verrière, where he was detained on the main road. Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman fired randomly, aiming to cause as many casualties as possible. Rabeh stated, "He wanted to cause carnage."

Three of the five wounded remain in serious condition. One victim is a 12-year-old girl who suffered eight gunshot wounds and required surgery. Her mother told broadcaster RTL that her daughter was wearing a headscarf and questioned if that was the reason she was attacked. The mother emphasized that her daughter was born in Trappes and has the right to live her life in France.

The precise motive has not yet been established. The suspect had four previous convictions that were automatically expunged from his record. Local media reported he was known to police but not to intelligence services. The prosecutor's office told BFMTV he was not on a list of people regarded as a serious threat to French security. A member of his immediate family circle was also taken into custody on Friday.

A local police chief told BFMTV the suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon. Le Parisien reported that the firearm dated back to World War Two.