A gunman firing from a car killed at least one person and wounded several others Friday in the Paris suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière, and French anti-terror prosecutors opened an investigation, CBS News and the BBC reported^1,2.

Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh told French television the man fired at random, seeking to cause mass casualties, as he drove through Trappes and neighboring La Verrière^1,2. Witnesses described a grey Renault Clio^1,2. The suspected shooter was arrested nearby, in Coignieres according to CBS and on a main road in La Verrière according to a police union official cited by the BBC^1,2.

Casualty counts differed. CBS, citing officials, said one person was killed and four wounded¹. The BBC said one was killed and five injured, with three still in serious condition². A 12-year-old girl was shot multiple times; La Verrière’s mayor told AFP she was in stable condition after eight wounds, CBS reported¹.

Prosecutors said they were examining whether victims were targeted over race, ethnicity, nationality or religion and opened a case for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise^1,2. President Emmanuel Macron, visiting the scene, called the shooting a racist terrorist attack and said people had been targeted over skin color or religion, the BBC reported².

French media named the suspect as Kevin T, 39, known to police but not to intelligence services and not listed as a serious security threat, the BBC said, citing the national anti-terror prosecutor’s office². A relative was also taken into custody². A local police chief told BFMTV the weapon was an older semi-automatic; the prosecutor’s office is also investigating possession of a Category A weapon².

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said security and judicial resources were fully mobilized¹. Motive beyond prosecutors’ working theory had not been established in court.

Sources

1. CBS NewsGunman in Paris suburb kills 1, wounds 4 in possible terrorist act, wanted "to cause a bloodbath," officials sayOct 24, 4:00 AM
2. BBCMacron says deadly shooting near Paris is a 'racist terrorist attack'Oct 23, 3:42 PM

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