French anti-terrorism prosecutors investigate possible racist motive after shooting in Trappes and La Verrière kills one and seriously injures at least four

France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has taken over the investigation into a shooting in Trappes and neighboring La Verrière, west of Paris, examining murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Investigators are also considering whether victims may have been targeted because of their ethnicity, race or religion.

A gunman fired from a car at passersby from around 10:30 a.m., in an attack spanning three separate locations. The sites listed included a bus stop, a gas station, a playground and a health center. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the shooting was random and that the gunman “wanted to cause a carnage.”

A 26-year-old man was killed and at least four people were seriously injured, including a 12-year-old girl who was hit multiple times and later described as stable. Rabeh said the man killed was of African origin and one of the wounded people was of North African origin.

The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Kévin T. from Plaisir, was arrested in nearby Coignières about 10 minutes after the attack began. He was reportedly using a WWII-era Sten submachine gun. He was known to police for minor offenses but not to intelligence services.