Gunman kills one, wounds five near Paris as anti-terror prosecutors take over

A gunman killed one person and wounded five others in two towns west of Paris on Friday, firing at a children’s playground, a fuel station and a medical centre in a rampage that lasted less than 15 minutes. France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutors have taken over the case.

The shooting hit Trappes and neighbouring La Verrière in the Yvelines department. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said three of the wounded, among them a 12-year-old girl, had life-threatening injuries. A 39-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards. He has not been named.

Nuñez said the gunman appeared to have used “a military-grade weapon, or at least an automatic weapon”. Prosecutors are treating the attack as a terrorist crime and are investigating whether it was racially or religiously motivated.

“Intent on carrying out a massacre”

Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the man “appeared to be firing at random and seemed intent on carrying out a massacre”. He said two of the victims were of African and North African origin.

“This was a terrorist attack with racist, likely Islamophobic, overtones,” Rabeh said.

President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: “Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and all the residents of Yvelines.”

A tense weekend

The attack came on the eve of fresh nationwide protests over the cost of living, after last weekend’s demonstrations brought fires, looting, the storming of public buildings and clashes with police.

Nuñez said 70,000 officers would be deployed on Saturday, backed by helicopters, armoured vehicles and water cannon. Elite units will guard public buildings such as city halls. Many demonstrations have been banned. Students, the CGT trade union and “yellow vest” activists are expected to join those that go ahead.

The security plan has drawn fire from both ends of politics. Far-right politicians say the government has not cracked down hard enough, while left-wing groups say the measures violate basic rights.

In Paris, the culture ministry told the institutions under it to take the necessary measures for “visitor safety, staff protection and the preservation of artworks”. The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée Picasso are among the museums that will stay shut on Saturday. Art Basel Paris, at the Grand Palais, opened to the public for a single day on Friday after its organisers cancelled the weekend programme.

“This decision has not been taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our utmost priority,” the organisers said.

What happens next

Investigators have not named the suspect or said what drove him. Saturday’s marches will be the first big test of the government’s tougher policing plan since last weekend’s violence.