▲ Police investigate the scene of a shooting in Trappes, near Paris, France, on October 23 (local time).
A mass shooting near Paris, France, on October 23 (local time) left at least one person dead and four others injured.
At least two of the victims are reportedly of immigrant background, and French authorities are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.
According to AFP and DPA news agencies, at around 10:30 a.m. that day, an assailant in a vehicle traveled through the western Paris suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière, firing multiple shots at people.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated, "It appears the perpetrator used a military-grade weapon or at least an automatic weapon."
The suspect reportedly fled the scene after the shooting before being arrested by police.
According to sources, the suspect is a 39-year-old man, AFP reported.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV that the perpetrator "attempted to cause a massacre by firing indiscriminately," adding that the fatality is of African descent and one of the critically injured victims is of North African descent.
Calling it "a miracle that there weren't more victims," he explained that the attacks took place in multiple locations, including a gas station, a medical facility, and a playground.
La Verrière Mayor Nicolas Dainville told AFP that a 12-year-old girl among the injured was shot eight times and is in serious condition.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu posted on X (formerly Twitter) that it is "a very serious situation" and stated that the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office is monitoring the situation.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) stated that it is investigating the case as a potential terrorist-linked murder, examining whether the attack was motivated by the victims' race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion.
President Emmanuel Macron wrote that it was "horrific" and that "the nation stands by the victims, their families, and all the residents."
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions across France just a day ahead of large-scale protests scheduled for October 24.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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