Paris-Area Shooting Suspect Charged in 1 Death as Hate-Crime Probe Widens

Q: What hidden evidence prompted French anti-terrorism prosecutors to take over a seemingly random drive-by shooting in Trappes?

It was not just the apparent randomness of the shooting. What pushed France’s anti-terrorism prosecutors to take over was evidence suggesting a possible terror or hate motive: victims included people identified as of African and North African origin, and prosecutors formally opened the case for “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise” with the aggravating factor that the act may have targeted victims because of their real or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. That legal framing indicates investigators saw more than an ordinary violent crime. Officials also pointed to the suspect’s method and apparent intent: he allegedly fired in bursts from a moving car at several locations, including near a playground, and may have used a military-grade or automatic weapon. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said there was a “rather strong indication” the crime could be terror-related. In other words, the “hidden” evidence was not a publicly disclosed manifesto or network link, but a combination of investigative signals: the victims’ backgrounds, the multi-site nature of the attack, the apparent indiscriminate bid to cause mass casualties, and the weapon used. Those elements were enough for the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office to treat the case as a suspected terrorist or hate-driven attack while the motive is still being established.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 23

French prosecutors charged one suspect with murder, firearm possession and other counts after a shooting in Trappes and La Verrière killed one person and injured four.
The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said the charges include an aggravating factor that the acts were based on the victims' actual or supposed race, ethnicity, nation or religion.
Mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman fired from a car; a 12-year-old girl was among the wounded, and investigators are still determining the shooter's motive.
About 20 miles west of Paris, the attack has drawn national attention, with President Emmanuel Macron saying he was shocked and thanking law enforcement after the suspect was taken into custody.