Macron Condemns Shooting in Paris Suburb as ‘Racist Terrorist Attack’

Source reports published 23 Oct 2026, 9:01 am – 24 Oct 2026, 4:13 am AEST

A gunman attacked people in the Trappes suburb of Paris, killing one person and injuring several others, including a 12-year-old girl. French President Macron described the event as a ‘racist terrorist attack’ and called for unity.

What happened

• On Friday morning, a 39-year-old man, identified as Kevin T, opened fire from his car in the Parisian suburb of Trappes and the neighbouring town of La Verriere.
• Witnesses reported that he was ‘firing at random, wanting to cause a bloodbath’ as he drove through the area.
• The gunman targeted individuals based on their skin colour or religion, according to Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh, who described the attack as ‘objectively a racist, probably Islamophobic attack’.
• One victim, a 12-year-old girl, was shot eight times and remains in a serious condition.
• Other victims, including one of African origin and another of North African origin, sustained injuries.
• Police arrested the suspect in Coignieres, finding him in possession of a submachine gun, tear-gas grenades, and booby-trapped his flat with gas canisters.
• The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation for ‘murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise’.
• The suspect had four previous convictions which had been ‘automatically expunged’.
• A member of his ‘immediate family circle’ was also taken into custody.

Original reporting

• BBC: Macron says deadly shooting near Paris is a 'racist terrorist attack'
  2026-10-23T11:09:36.395000+00:00
• Guardian: Macron condemns racism after one killed in ‘terrorist’ shooting near Paris
  2026-10-23T00:00:00+00:00
• Sky News: Terrorist shooting in Paris suburb marks 'turning point for France', Macron says
  2026-10-22T23:01:00+00:00
• France 24 English: Macron says 'racist terrorist attack’ in Trappes marks turning point for France
  2026-10-23T11:08:26+00:00
• South China Morning Post: Macron condemns ‘racist terrorist attack’ after deadly shooting near Paris
  2026-10-23T18:13:09+00:00