Susanna Riva On Friday morning, around 10:30 a.m. local time, a man driving a car opened fire in Trappes and La Verrière, two Parisian suburbs with significant immigrant and Muslim populations. The gunfire was directed at a gas station, a medical center, and a playground, killing Pengo Bassio Wangi , 26, and seriously injuring a 12-year-old girl, also wearing a hijab.
Friday morning events in Trappes and La Verrière
The suspect, identified as Kevin T., 39 , used a World War II-era Sten -type semi-automatic weapon capable of burst fire. Authorities estimated the shooting lasted approximately fifteen minutes, during which the perpetrator fired at civilians without apparent pattern.
After fleeing, police stopped him in Coignières, not far from the scene of the clashes. In his car, they found not only the weapon, but also tear gas grenades and, according to the investigation, gas cylinders left in his home, set as a booby trap.
The investigations and statements of the authorities
The Ministry of the Interior , represented by Laurent Nunez, called the event a "clear terrorist crime ." The prosecutor has opened an investigation for murder related to a terrorist enterprise , with aggravating circumstances of racial or religious motivation. Prosecutors are examining the possibility that Kevin T. had ties to terrorist groups and have also arrested a member of his family. Local MP Laurent Mazaury said the suspect told police he wanted to "kill foreigners," calling the perpetrator "a racist individual."
Details on the law enforcement response
Trappes Police Chief Ali Rabeh emphasized that the attack was "objectively a racist act, probably Islamophobic." He also reported that authorities have mobilized all available resources, including 70.000 officers expected to manage the cost-of-living protests across France. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, in a statement on X, assured that "all the resources of the security forces and the judiciary are fully mobilized."
Political reactions and context of social tension
President Emmanuel Macron called the incident a "terrorist and racist attack," calling it a "turning point for the Republic." He expressed solidarity with the victims and reaffirmed his commitment to combating racism in all its forms . National Rally leader Marine Le Pen condemned the violence as "barbaric," but at the same time continues to support restrictive measures against the veil, fueling a climate of hostility toward Muslim communities. Recent European Parliament resolutions, passed by a 381-167 vote, aimed to counter the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, a measure seen by some observers as a victory for right-wing anti-Muslim forces.
In the broader European context, several monitoring organizations have reported a rise in Islamophobic acts. Amnesty International has described the situation in the United Kingdom as a "state of emergency," while the EU Fundamental Rights Agency notes that one in two Muslims experiences discrimination in employment and housing. In France, the growing wave of protests over the cost of living, fueled by some politicians, has intensified tensions, providing fertile ground for hate-motivated violence.