France’s national counterterrorism prosecutor has formally requested that a 39-year-old suspect be held in pretrial detention following a shooting rampage in the Paris suburbs. The incident, which occurred last Friday across Trappes and neighboring La Verrière, resulted in the death of one person and left seven others wounded. The suspect, identified by authorities only as Kevin T., is a French national who was apprehended less than 20 minutes after the attacks began. His last name has not been made public.
Among those injured was an 11-year-old girl. The gunman reportedly fired shots from his vehicle while traveling along a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) route. National counterterrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen stated that the suspect has now acknowledged the acts were premeditated. According to Christen, the suspect admitted to specifically targeting individuals he believed to be Muslim, or from sub-Saharan or North Africa, based on their physical appearance. The suspect allegedly chose the suburb of Trappes because he viewed it as a “haven for Islamists.” While he denied any terrorist intent, he reportedly told investigators that he had no regrets regarding his actions.
A judicial investigation is currently underway concerning charges of murder and attempted murder linked to a terrorist enterprise, with the aggravating circumstance that the crimes were committed because of the victims’ actual or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. The victim who lost his life has been identified as Pengo Bossio Wangi, a 26-year-old Black French national. Four of the seven wounded individuals sustained serious injuries, with one person remaining in life-threatening condition as of Thursday. The identities of the injured have not been disclosed.
Investigators revealed that the suspect has a history of drug addiction and psychiatric issues. Toxicology reports identified the presence of cannabis, cocaine, and prescribed medication in his system. During a search of his vehicle, police discovered a Sten-type submachine gun. Furthermore, his apartment was found to be booby-trapped with three gas cylinders connected to a timer. Evidence indicates that the suspect purchased firearm parts last month and, two days prior to the shooting, deleted his social media accounts, sold his laptop, and attempted to conceal his phone, though police managed to recover it.
Authorities also recovered a copy of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” and stickers stored in a drawer bearing inscriptions such as “Long live France,” “Proud to be French,” and “RN,” the acronym for the French far-right party National Rally. The suspect told investigators he had personally designed and ordered the stickers. However, the suspect maintained that he was not a member or supporter of any political party, Christen said.
