French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a series of drive-by shootings in the suburbs of Paris was a “racist terrorist attack” that killed one person and injured five others, including a 12-year-old girl.
“These people were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion, and for no other reason,” Macron said after the attack.
The shooting took place in the French towns of Trappes and La Verriere, where French officials say the shooter was firing from his vehicle at people. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the man who was killed in the shooting attack was “of African origin.”
“What happened today marks a turning point for the Republic and our country. What happened today was a terrorist and racist attack,” Macron said.
The suspect was arrested by French authorities within 20 minutes of the attack, according to the Associated Press, and has been identified only as Kevin T. The case is under investigation by the French national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office. The authorities said the suspect had a criminal record and had booby-trapped his apartment.
Rabeh called it “objectively a racist, probably Islamophobic attack,” and said the attacker was “firing at random, wanting to cause a bloodbath.”
The attack comes at a tense time for France, as chaotic protests roil the streets of Paris.
What started out as student-led protests escalated to cause a chaotic scene in France’s capital city as violence erupted, with French authorities blaming the riots on left-wing agitators.
Socialist leader of France’s La France Insoumise party, Jean-Luc Melenchon, has denounced the government’s response to the protests. He also denounced the shooting on Friday, saying in an X post translated to English, “Racism kills.”
FRANCE PREPARES FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF WEEKEND PROTESTS
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, called the shooting a “barbaric act” and said “Justice must be unrelenting” after French officials announced the motive.
Le Pen is reportedly launching her presidential campaign at a party rally in Orleans.