Trappes Shooting: Gunman Kills One, Wounds Four Near Paris

A man firing an automatic weapon from a moving car killed one person and wounded four others in a string of attacks around Trappes, west of Paris, on Friday morning (Oct 23), French authorities said. The Trappes shooting has been handed to France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutors.

A 39-year-old suspect was detained a short time later in nearby Coignières and placed in police custody. A 12-year-old girl was among the wounded.

Gunfire Across Trappes and La Verrière

According to French media citing police sources, the first emergency calls came in at around 10am local time. Witnesses reported shots at several spots in Trappes, including near a post office, a petrol station beside the RN10 highway and a health centre, before gunfire was also reported in the neighbouring town of La Verrière, about 10 minutes’ drive away.

Le JDD reported that the gunman was driving a Renault Clio and that the person killed was a 26-year-old shot in Trappes. Several of the wounded were taken to Paris hospitals in critical condition. The mayor of La Verrière, Nicolas Dainville, told BFMTV that the girl’s condition had been stabilised.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described it as a very serious incident affecting three areas, and said the attacker appeared to be on a murderous rampage, although his motive was not yet clear. Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV the man seemed to be shooting at random and “wanted to cause carnage”.

Anti-Terror Prosecutors Take Over Trappes Shooting Case

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) took charge of the investigation shortly before 1pm. According to Le JDD, the inquiry covers murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, with an aggravating circumstance linked to the victims’ real or supposed race, ethnicity, nation or religion. Investigators are examining a possible racist motive, but no motive has been established.

Police reportedly found a submachine gun, possibly a World War II-era model, when they arrested the suspect. Le JDD said he was already known to police for petty crime, while other local reports said he was not known to the intelligence services.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X that the individual had been apprehended and that all resources had been mobilised. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his deep emotion and said the nation stood beside the victims.

What Happens Next

The suspect can be questioned in police custody while investigators carry out ballistic tests to retrace his route and establish which sites were hit. French media reported that elite RAID officers and bomb disposal teams were sent to his home in the nearby town of Plaisir. Investigators are also trying to find out how he obtained the weapon and whether the attack was planned. Trappes has set up a psychological support unit for residents.

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