One killed, four injured in drive-by shooting in Paris suburb

One person was killed and at least four others were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl, when shots were fired from a car in two towns west of Paris on Friday. A suspect was arrested and France’s anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating whether the attack was racially motivated. Issued on: 23/10/2026 - 14:55 2 min Reading time The shootings took place in Trappes and La Verrière, two suburbs in the Yvelines department west of Paris. The attacker fired at five people in different locations from a vehicle, using “what appears to have been a military-grade weapon, or at least an automatic weapon”, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. A suspect was arrested and placed in police custody, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X. He was not known to the intelligence services. Several locations in Trappes were targeted, including a petrol station, a health centre and a playground, Mayor Ali Rabeh told news channel BFMTV. The man killed was of African origin, while another of North African origin was critically wounded. “The gunman was clearly shooting at random and wanted to cause carnage,” Rabeh said. “It is a miracle that there were not more victims.” A 12-year-old girl was wounded in La Verrière, while two men aged 29 and 49 were also targeted and taken to hospital, the town’s mayor Nicolas Dainville said. Prosecutors have urged caution over the casualty figures and will release confirmed details of the victims later, the daily Le Parisien reported. Possible racist motive The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has taken charge of the case. The shootings appeared to be part of a deadly rampage, Nuñez said when asked about the motive, adding that the involvement of anti-terror prosecutors was already a strong indication. The investigation covers murder and attempted murder linked to terrorism, including whether the acts were committed because of a victim’s actual or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. “The anti-terrorism prosecutor taking up the case ... suggests this was a terrorist attack with racist overtones, judging by the reasons it has given,” Rabeh told public broadcaster FranceInfo. The shooting came as France prepared for protests on Saturday over the high cost of living, with security stepped up to prevent a repeat of last week’s violent unrest. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all the residents of Yvelines,” President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, saying he was deeply moved and thanking police for the arrest. (with newswires)