A gunman has shot five people with a machine-gun, killing one and wounding a 12-year-old girl outside Paris.
The armed man drove around ‘several neighbourhoods’ of Trappes and neighbouring La Verrière and fired ‘randomly’ at around 10.30 this morning according to Ali Rabeh, mayor of Trappes.
The gunman seemed intent on ‘causing as many casualties as possible’. He fired on several locations including a playground, Mr Rabeh said.
France‘s national anti-terrorism prosecutor has taken up the case and is treating it as a suspected ‘terror’ attack, with investigators looking into bringing terrorism charges.
Actu, a French news organisation, reported the perpetrator as being 39-year-old Kevin T. from Plaisir. It added that the 12-year-old girl who was injured was struck in the pelvis with eight bullets, while the man who was killed was 26 years old.
Le Parisien, a French newspaper, reported that the perpetrator fired a STEN-type sub-machine gun from the Second World War from a vehicle. It added that he was known to police for prior offences, though later said he was not on the radar of intelligence services.
Mr Rabeh said the man ‘wanted to cause carnage’, adding: ‘It is a miracle that there were not more victims.’
The mayor said the person killed was of African origin, while one of those critically wounded was of North African origin.
Firefighters intervene on a site of a petrol station where a man opened fire from his car in Trappes, France, on October 23, 2026
Police officers at petrol station where a man opened fire from his car in Trappes, France, on October 23, 2026
The suspect has since been arrested in a car park in nearby Coignières, with local media reporting that he was driving a grey Renault Clio. He was arrested less than ten minutes after the first emergency calls were made.
Police said the motive for the shooting remained unclear. Local media reported he had a shaved head and was wearing a blue jumper and jeans at the time of the incident.
French police are now searching the suspect’s home, with elite cops and a bomb squad being sent to the property. Local media reported that gas was left on at the man’s home.
Local officials said, according to Le Monde, that emergency services are responding but that the situation is ‘not yet stable’ and that the death toll may yet rise.
Nicolas Dainville, the mayor of La Verrière, said the 12-year-old girl’s condition is ‘stable’ and added that two men, aged 29 and 49, have been taken to two different hospitals.
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez today said on his way to the scene: ‘It looks like a murderous rampage; we don’t know the motives.’
Emmanuel Macron, president of France, said after news of the deadly shooting broke: ‘Deep emotion following the shooting attack that occurred in Trappes and La Verrière. One person has died. Several others are seriously injured.
‘Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and all the residents of Yvelines. In this terrible ordeal, the Nation stands by their side.
‘Recognition to our law enforcement forces who have already proceeded with the arrest of the perpetrator. The national antiterrorist prosecutor’s office has taken charge.’
Police arrested the suspect shortly after the first emergency calls were made
The motive for the shooting is not currently known
Sebastien Lecornu, France’s prime minister, said following the incident: ‘All resources of the security forces and the judicial authority are fully mobilised. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it is monitoring the situation.’
Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France region which the affected towns lie in, said on X: ‘The cities of Trappes and La Verrière struck by an assassin who was quickly apprehended. Bravo to our law enforcement forces. All light must be quickly shed on this tragedy. My thoughts go to the victims, their families, and the grieving residents.’
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party, said on X: ‘The massacre that took place this morning in Trappes is a barbaric act whose motivations must be established, and those responsible severely punished. I extend my condolences and support to the victims and their families in the face of this horrific tragedy.’
Mr Rabeh said this morning in a Facebook post: ‘I offer my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, as well as my full support to the other victims.
‘I would like to commend the intervention of the law enforcement and emergency services. The city remains in close contact with the relevant authorities.
‘An investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of these events and the motives of the shooter. The city will set up a psychological support unit within the next few hours.’
France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor has launched a preliminary investigation that will look at charges of murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise and attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
On top of this, anti-terror investigators are looking into charges of possession of a Category A weapon and terrorist conspiracy with a view to preparing crimes.
The shooting happened as France braces for another day of protests against the high cost of living on Saturday.
Police cordoned off the petrol station in Trappes, France, to investigate the deadly shooting on October 23, 2026
Investigators are on the scene, looking at the evidence left behind following the shooting in France
Major museums are closing their doors and the government is deploying a significantly larger security presence to prevent a repeat of last week’s violent unrest which shocked the country.
France had seen a spate of Islamist attacks, including the slaughter by jihadists in the heart of Paris in November 2015 that killed 130.
There have been fewer incidents in recent years but officials have warned that the risk remains and that attempted attacks are repeatedly thwarted by intelligence gathering.
Samuel Paty, a teacher in another Paris suburb, was beheaded by a radical Islamist in 2020 after he showed his class caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.
Trappes has seen its own share of tension, after a teacher there reported receiving threats after writing that the state did not do enough to protect Mr Paty.
More to follow.
