A gunman killed one person and wounded five others — including a 12-year-old girl — in a shooting spree in the Paris suburbs on Friday (October 23), in an attack President Emmanuel Macron called a "terrorist and racist" act and a turning point for France.
File photo: Trappes town hall in Yvelines, west of Paris, where the shooting took place. (Photo: Henry Salomé, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Attack: A 20-Minute Shooting Spree
The shooting began at around 10 a.m. in Trappes, a town about 30 kilometres west of Paris, and continued into the neighbouring town of La Verrière. According to France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (PNAT) and the Wall Street Journal, the gunman drove a grey Renault Clio and fired an automatic weapon — later identified as a Sten submachine gun — at people in public places: first at a mother and daughter in a parked car, then at a health centre (where no one was hit), then at a French citizen who was shot dead less than a mile away, then at a petrol station where two people were wounded, and finally near a pharmacy in La Verrière, where more people were shot.
Police arrested the suspect at 10:20 a.m. near a restaurant in Coignières, less than 20 minutes after the shooting began. "It's very likely that they stopped this ongoing, murderous expedition," Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said of the officers who made the arrest.
The man killed was Pengo Bossio Wangi, 26, a French national from Poissy who practised mixed martial arts and aspired to become a professional fighter. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said he was "of African origin." The 12-year-old girl was hit eight times, according to broadcaster BFM, and remains in serious condition, along with two other injured people.
Macron: "A Turning Point"
Macron visited Trappes on Friday, meeting the mayor, emergency workers and residents, before declaring the shooting a terrorist and racist attack.
"What happened today is, I am telling you, a turning point, because it is the first time we have had a terrorist act that was planned to kill our compatriots, our children, based on the colour of their skin or their religion," he told reporters. He said the victims had been targeted because of their skin colour or perceived religion — and that the gunman had deliberately chosen not to fire upon some people due to their skin colour and appearance.
"We will not give in, and we have nothing to give in on," Macron said. "The Republic will hold." He also warned that "racism has taken hold in public discourse."
File photo: Paris skyline at sunset. (Photo: Pedro Kümmel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Suspect and the Investigation
The suspect has been identified only as Kevin T., 39. He was already known to police for petty crime and had four previous convictions that were automatically expunged under French law — but he was not known to France's intelligence services and was not listed as a serious threat. A member of his immediate family was also taken into custody on Friday.
Police found the submachine gun and tear-gas grenades in his car. A search of his apartment found it booby-trapped: gas canisters connected to electrical wires and a timer. PNAT has opened an investigation into murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, with the aggravating circumstance that the acts were committed because of the victims' actual or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, is also involved.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh, whose parents came from Morocco, called the shooting "racist" and "Islamophobic," saying the attacker was "firing at random, wanting to cause a bloodbath." "The people targeted today could just as easily have been my mother, my brothers or my sisters-in-law," he said.
Reactions crossed the political divide: far-right leader Marine Le Pen called the shooting a "barbaric act" and said "Justice must be unrelenting," while left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon wrote: "Racism kills."
A Country Already on Edge
The attack comes at a moment of particular tension in France. Nationwide protests turned violent on Saturday, October 17, with looting and vandalism in several cities, and fresh demonstrations are scheduled for this weekend. Major museums have closed their doors as the government stepped up security, and Interior Minister Nuñez has deployed soldiers from the Army's Operation Sentinelle to help prevent a repeat of the violence.
India Angle: MEA Advisory for Indians in France
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday advised Indian nationals in France, Italy and Belgium to remain vigilant, avoid areas where protests are taking place, and follow local authorities' instructions. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Indian missions in all three countries are closely following developments and staying in regular contact with community members.
The Indian Embassy in France has also issued its own advisory: Indians should avoid large gatherings and crowded places where protests are taking place, stay informed through local news, and check for public transport disruptions. In an emergency, the Embassy of India in Paris can be reached at +33 6 48 34 00 63 (cons.paris@mea.gov.in), and the Consulate General in Marseille at +33 7 43 16 25 59 (cgo.marseille@mea.gov.in).
FAQs
Where did the Trappes shooting happen?
In Trappes and the neighbouring town of La Verrière, in the Yvelines department about 30 km west of Paris, on Friday morning, October 23.
How many people were killed or injured?
One person was killed — 26-year-old Pengo Bossio Wangi — and five were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl who remains in serious condition.
Who is the suspect?
A 39-year-old identified only as Kevin T., arrested within 20 minutes of the attack. He was known to police for petty crime but not to intelligence services. PNAT is investigating it as a terrorist enterprise.
Why is Macron calling it a "turning point"?
Because, in his words, it is the first terrorist act in France planned to kill people "based on the colour of their skin or their religion" — victims were targeted for their skin colour or perceived religion.
What should Indians in France do?
The MEA advises remaining vigilant, avoiding protest areas and following local advisories. Emergency contact: Embassy of India, Paris: +33 6 48 34 00 63.
Sources: CNN, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, France 24, ANI, IANS, The Business Standard.