There was a shooting this Friday in broad daylight in downtown Paris that killed at least three people and injured four others. The alleged attacker is a 69-year-old man.
According to information from the Minister of Interior, Gérald Darmanin, a man opened fire in the 10th district, downtown in the French capital, very close to a Kurdish community center, on Enghien St.
He also indicated that a suspect is in custody, who had also been previously arrested for two attempted homicides, one of them in 2016 when he attacked immigrants and the other five years later for attacking a migrant center "with a saber." In fact, the alleged attacker had recently been provisionally released.
🔴 ATTAQUE À PARIS : Deux morts et quatre blessés, dont 2 en urgence absolue, dans une #fusillade, aux abords du centre Culturel Kurde Ahmet Kaya, rue d’Enghien dans le 10ᵉ arr. de #Paris.
Le tireur a été interpellé.
"C'est la panique totale", témoigne une commerçante. pic.twitter.com/XFEyT0yVrr— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) December 23, 2022
Motive behind the attack
While it is not yet certain what led the man to commit the shooting, it is believed that racism may have played a role, although other motives have not been ruled out.
"An investigation has been opened for murder, voluntary manslaughter and aggravated violence," said the Paris Prefecture indicating that the second district of the Judicial Police will be in charge of the inquiries.
According to local media, the suspect is a retired French national. He allegedly worked in the past as a conductor for the national railroad company.
The mayor's reaction
Following the terrible shooting, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, spoke out in support of the victims and their families.
La communauté kurde et, à travers elle tous les Parisiens, a été visée par ces assassinats commis par un militant d’extrême-droite. Les Kurdes où qu’ils résident doivent pouvoir vivre en paix et en sécurité. Plus que jamais, Paris est à leurs côtés dans ces heures sombres.
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) December 23, 2022
"My thoughts are with the victims and their families," she said, while highlighting the speed with which security forces acted to apprehend the suspect and seize the weapon used in the attack.
She also announced that a psychological unit will be added in the district of the attack to support the local residents.
