A gunman drove through two Paris suburb towns on Friday morning — Trappes and the neighbouring La Verrière in the Yvelines area — opening fire at random from his vehicle on a children's playground, a fuel station, and a medical centre. One person was killed and five others were wounded; among the injured was a 12-year-old girl who was shot eight times and remained in serious condition. Authorities said three of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.

The 39-year-old suspect, identified only as Kevin T. by prosecutors, was arrested in nearby Coignières within roughly 20 minutes of the attacks. Police found a submachine gun and tear-gas grenades in his possession, and investigators reported that his apartment had been booby-trapped. Anti-terrorism prosecutors took over the case, opening an investigation for "murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise" while probing whether victims were targeted because of their race, ethnicity, or religion.

President Emmanuel Macron visited Trappes on Friday evening and called the attack a watershed moment, describing it as "the first time we have had a terrorist act that was planned to kill our compatriots, our children, based on the colour of their skin or their religion." The shooting arrived at a particularly fraught moment in France, just days after nationwide protests had turned violent in several cities. The mayor of Trappes described the suspect as having wanted "to cause a bloodbath," and early reports indicated investigators found extremist materials at his home.