Deadly shooting outside Paris a ‘terrorist attack’, say police

On October 23, 2026, a gunman killed one person and wounded five others, including a 12-year-old girl, in drive-by shootings near Paris, specifically in the suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière. The attack lasted less than 15 minutes and involved shooting at three separate locations. French authorities quickly arrested a suspect and classified the incident as a "terrorist crime" with suspected racist motives. President Emmanuel Macron condemned it as a "racist terrorist attack," highlighting the growing issue of racism in France. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised law enforcement for their swift response, which resulted in the apprehension of the gunman shortly after the attacks. The shootings occurred amid ongoing social unrest and protests across France over cost-of-living issues and school funding, raising concerns about further violence during planned demonstrations scheduled for the following day. Macron urged national unity against such acts of racism and terrorism. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's office is investigating several offenses, including murder related to a terrorist enterprise motivated by racial prejudice. Local officials like Mayor Ali Rabeh noted that the attacker had intended to cause maximum harm randomly targeting individuals based on their race or perceived ethnicity. The incident has sparked heightened security measures across major cities in France to prevent additional violence during protests.