Kevin T. faces terrorism charges after 15-minute drive-by shooting

French prosecutors have opened a terrorism case against Kevin T, a 39-year-old driver who killed one person and wounded five others during a 15-minute shooting spree in the Paris suburbs. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) stated that the incident appears to be murder connected to a terrorist enterprise. They also cited charges for conspiracy with a terrorist group and possession of a Category A weapon.

The attack took place on Friday evening. The suspect drove a grey Renault Clio through Trappes, located southwest of Paris, before moving into the neighboring town of La Verrière. Witnesses reported that the gunman fired at a petrol station, a medical center, and a playground in Trappes. He then continued to La Verrière, where a police union official said he was detained on the town's main road. Three of the five wounded remain in serious condition, including a 12-year-old girl who suffered eight gunshot wounds.

Emmanuel Macron visited the scene on Friday. He described the violence as a racist terrorist attack and called it a turning point in the life of the Republic. Macron said this was the first time France had experienced a random racial killing of this kind. He noted that victims were singled out because of their skin color or religion. The president urged the public not to give an inch against ideologies taking root. However, the precise motive has not yet been established by investigators.

Kevin T had four previous convictions that were automatically expunged. Local media reported that he was known to police but not to the country's intelligence services. The prosecutor's office told BFMTV that he was not on a list of people regarded as a serious threat to French security. A member of his immediate family circle was also taken into custody on Friday.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the suspect fired randomly, hoping to cause as many casualties as possible. He stated that the attacker wanted to cause carnage. The mother of the injured 12-year-old told broadcaster RTL that her daughter had been wearing a headscarf. She asked how anyone could do this to a child and said her daughter was born in France and had the right to live there.

A local police chief told BFMTV that the suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon. Le Parisien reported that the firearm dated back to World War Two. The PNAT investigation covers the use of this Category A weapon, a classification that includes military-grade arms and weapons capable of firing in bursts.