One Killed After Unprovoked Firing In France, Four Injured; Police Nab Shooter

Last Updated:October 23, 2026, 6:38 PM IST

One person was killed, and at least four others were injured, in a shooting in Trappes, west of Paris, with a suspect arrested as French authorities investigate the attack.

French police work at the scene after a drive-by shooting that killed one person and injured several others in Trappes, in the Yvelines department, near Paris, France, October 23, 2026

One person was killed and four others were injured, including a 12-year-old girl, after a gunman opened fire from a car in western France on Friday.

The shooting began in Trappes, a town around 30 km from central Paris, and continued along a road towards neighbouring La Verriere. The suspected shooter was arrested by law enforcement, authorities said.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences and thanked the security forces for taking the suspect into custody. He said the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office had taken charge of the investigation.

The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said investigators would examine whether the shooting was an act of terrorism or whether it was motivated by racial or religious hatred.

Ali Rabeh, the mayor of Trappes, told BFMTV that the suspect had been firing from his car and appeared to be shooting at random. He said the gunman seemed determined to carry out what he described as a “massacre”.

Rabeh said the suspect lived in a nearby town and was travelling from Trappes towards La Verriere when the shooting took place. BFMTV reported that the 12-year-old girl had been hit eight times.

Nicolas Dainville, the mayor of La Verriere, described the suspect as a man living in Plaisir and referred to him as being of “European type”.

Rabeh said two of the victims were of African and North African origin. He did not provide details about the backgrounds of the other two injured people.

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in France following violent incidents during nationwide protests last Saturday. Authorities are also preparing for possible unrest over the coming weekend. Some far-right groups had blamed immigration for the violence during last weekend’s protests.

(With Reuters inputs)

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What happened during the shooting incident in western France?

A gunman opened fire from a car in western France, starting in Trappes and continuing toward La Verriere, leaving one person dead and four others injured. The victims included a 12-year-old girl who was hit eight times, and the suspect was subsequently arrested by law enforcement in nearby Coignieres.

Who is investigating the shooting in France, and what motives are being examined?

France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office took charge of the investigation and is monitoring the situation. Investigators are examining whether the shooting was an act of terrorism or motivated by racial or religious hatred.

What security context accompanied the shooting in the Paris suburbs?

The shooting occurred as France braced for another day of protests against the high cost of living, following violent unrest during nationwide protests the previous week that prompted the government to deploy a significantly larger security presence.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More

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