Prosecutor Charges 39-Year-Old Driver With Terrorism After Suburban Shooting

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office has indicted Kevin T, a 39-year-old man, for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise following a shooting spree in the Paris suburbs. The charge includes possession of a Category A weapon and conspiracy to prepare crimes against persons. The violent incident resulted in one death and five other injuries, with three victims, including a 12-year-old girl, remaining in serious condition.

The attack lasted approximately 15 minutes on Friday. The driver, identified by local media as Kevin T, fired from a grey Renault Clio while driving through neighborhoods in Trappes and the neighboring town of La Verrière. Witnesses reported that the gunman targeted individuals at a petrol station, a medical center, and a playground. He was stopped and detained on the main road in La Verrière by police officials.

President Emmanuel Macron visited the scene and characterized the violence as a racist terrorist attack. He stated that victims were singled out due to their skin color or religion. Macron described the event as a turning point for the nation, noting it was the first instance of a random racial killing of this type in France. He urged the public to resist ideologies he said were taking root.

The prosecutor's office has not yet established the precise motive. Kevin T had four previous convictions that were automatically expunged from his record. While known to police, he was not tracked by intelligence services and was not listed as a serious threat to national security. A member of his immediate family was also taken into custody on Friday.

Ali Rabeh, the mayor of Trappes, said the gunman fired randomly with the intent to cause maximum casualties. A local police chief told BFMTV that the suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon. Le Parisien reported that the firearm dated back to World War II.

The mother of the injured 12-year-old girl spoke to RTL, explaining that her daughter suffered eight gunshot wounds and required surgery. She noted that the child was wearing a headscarf and questioned if that was the reason for the attack. The mother emphasized that her daughter was born in Trappes and had the right to live her life in France.

The case remains under active investigation by the PNAT. The next steps in the legal process have not been scheduled beyond the initial indictment and the custody of the suspect's family member.