Nuñez confirms military-grade weapon used in Trappes drive-by that killed one

A gunman drove through the Paris suburb of Trappes on Friday morning, firing from his vehicle for nearly 15 minutes and killing one person while wounding at least five others. The attack ended when five anti-crime officers stopped the shooter in the nearby town of Coignieres.

President Emmanuel Macron labeled the incident a racist terror attack. He stated that the suspect targeted victims specifically because of their skin color or perceived religion. "There is no place for this in France," Macron said after meeting with local officials and residents.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the weapon was military-grade or automatic. The suspect has four prior convictions, all of which had been legally erased from his record. Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, examining if victims were targeted by race, ethnicity, or religion.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the shooter drove through Trappes and neighboring La Verriere, aiming at passersby at three locations including a playground. Rabeh described the event as a likely Islamophobic mass killing attempt. He noted that one victim, a 12-year-old girl, was shot eight times but is in stable condition.

The person who died was of African origin, Rabeh said. One critically wounded victim is of North African origin. Three other victims were described as very seriously hurt. Officials initially reported four wounded, but the mayor later corrected the count to five.

The shooting occurred while France faced ongoing tensions over cost of living and recent curfews. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called the case very serious on social media. He said all security and judicial resources were fully mobilized.

Nuñez announced that 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed across the country. This force includes elite units, helicopters, and armored vehicles. Major Paris museums, including the Louvre, will close, and Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program due to safety concerns.