Suspect charged after 15-minute Paris suburb rampage

French President Emmanuel Macron described the violence as a turning point for the nation, calling it the first random racial killing of its kind in France. The assessment followed a 15-minute shooting spree in the Paris suburbs that left one person dead and five others wounded.

The attacker, identified by media as 39-year-old Kevin T, fired from a grey Renault Clio while driving through Trappes and La Verrière. He was detained on the main road in La Verrière. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office has charged him with murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The investigation also includes counts for possessing a Category A weapon and conspiring with a terrorist group.

Witnesses and officials say the gunman targeted individuals based on their perceived migrant origin. Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh stated the suspect fired randomly, aiming to cause maximum carnage. Victims were hit at a petrol station, a medical centre, and a playground. The police chief told BFMTV that the weapon was an older-style semi-automatic firearm, which Le Parisien reported dated back to World War Two.

Three of the wounded are in serious condition. Among them is a 12-year-old girl who sustained eight gunshot wounds and required surgery. Her mother told RTL that her daughter was wearing a headscarf and was born in Trappes. The mother questioned why a child would be targeted, noting her daughter has the right to live in France.

The prosecutor's office has not yet established the precise motive. However, Macron said during a site visit that victims were singled out by skin colour or religion. He urged the public to resist ideologies taking root. The PNAT noted that the suspect had four previous convictions that were automatically expunged. Local media reported he was known to police but not to intelligence services, and the prosecutor's office confirmed he was not on a list of serious security threats.

A member of the suspect's immediate family circle was also taken into custody on Friday. The case has drawn attention to how authorities track individuals with prior criminal records who are not currently flagged by intelligence agencies. The investigation continues as the legal process moves forward.

The shooting occurred in communities with significant migrant populations. The use of a military-grade classification for the weapon indicates the severity of the arsenal used. The suspect's vehicle was found at the scene of the arrest in La Verrière. The family member taken into custody remains part of the ongoing inquiry.