Investigations are underway to determine what led a 69-year-old man, who was already on trial for a racist attack, to to open fire on Friday, in Paris, near a Kurdish cultural centeras a result of which three people were killed and three others were injured.
Emmanuel Macron denounced a “heinous attack”, whose “target was the Kurds of France” and, at his request, the chief of police of Paris will receive the leaders of the Kurdish community.
These latter have also announced a demonstration for noon in Paris.
The incident happened on rue Angiem, at the height of a Kurdish cultural center, in a commercial area that is the center of Kurdish community life in the French capital.
The shooter, who had previously committed gun violence, was arrested a short time later and is in custody.
No information has been leaked about the profile of the victims, who were not “known to the French services”, Interior Minister Géral Darmanen said.
Authorities have launched an investigation into murders, attempted murders, armed violence and violation of weapons laws.
The perpetrator, who suffered a slight facial injury during his arrest, is known to the court.
He was sentenced in June to 12 months in prison for gun violence he committed in 2016 – a conviction he has appealed.
This man was also charged in December 2021 with premeditated and racially motivated violence with weapons for events on December 8, 2021. In this second case, he is suspected of stabbing migrants in a camp in Paris and destroying their tents, a police img said at the time.
After a year in pretrial detention, he was released on December 12, as required by law, and placed under judicial supervision, Paris prosecutor Laure Bequio announced.
Scenarios for racial motivation
In 2017, the man was given a six-month suspended prison sentence for illegal gun possession.
On the contrary, he is unknown to the internal security (DGSI) and intelligence services and “had no record as a far-right”, according to Géral Darmanen.
According to the first data of the research, racial motivation is one of the scenarios being investigated, but it must be confirmed mainly by the suspect’s statements during his detention.
The scenario of a terrorist attack has been ruled out at this stage of the investigation, according to the prosecutor.
Yesterday morning “he didn’t say anything while leaving (…) He’s a fool. He is mad”the suspect’s 90-year-old father told AFP, describing him as “reticent” and “reclusive”.
“He wanted to attack foreigners” and “clearly acted alone”stated Darmanin, clarifying that he frequented a shooting range.
“It is not certain that the killer, who wanted to kill these people (…) did it specifically for the Kurds”he pointed out, while rumors of a “political” attack were spreading in the Kurdish community.
“Racist motivations for acts” will “obviously form part of investigations”prosecutor Lor Becchio also said during a press conference.
“Nothing allows at this stage to confirm any connection of this man with any extremist ideological movement”she clarified last night in her announcement.
The Kurdish community, shocked, spoke of a “terrorist” act and blamed Turkey. Violent incidents broke out with the forces of order and one person was arrested, a police img told AFP.
Abroad, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the shooting a “horrific act” and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken offered his “sincere condolences”.
Source: News Beast
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