The suspect in the shooting in Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris, has been indicted on charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The indictment was issued on Thursday, 29 October, by France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT), aggravated by the victims' real or perceived race, ethnicity, nation or religion.

Prosecutor Olivier Christen told a press briefing on Thursday that the suspect, identified only as Kévin T., 39, admitted during police custody that he had specifically targeted people of Muslim, African or North African appearance. Christen said the suspect told investigators he chose Trappes because, in his words, it was a "haven for Islamists". The suspect denied any terrorist intent and described his actions as legitimate, according to the prosecutor.

One killed, seven injured on 23 October

The attack took place on Friday, 23 October, in Trappes and the neighbouring town of La Verrière. One man, 26-year-old Pengo Bossio Wangi, a French citizen of Congolese descent, was killed, and seven other people were injured, four of them seriously, including one person who remained in a life-threatening condition on Thursday. Prosecutors said the suspect fired from a car and on foot, and that investigators found a Sten-type submachine gun in his car.

Booby-trapped flat and extremist material

Christen said the suspect's home had been booby-trapped with gas cylinders and wires connected to a timer, and searches found a copy of Adolf Hitler's manifesto "Mein Kampf" as well as stickers reading "Long live France", "Proud to be French" and "RN", the acronym of the far-right National Rally party. The suspect told investigators he had designed and ordered the stickers himself and was neither a member nor a supporter of any political party. Prosecutors have requested his pre-trial detention while the judicial investigation continues. The charges are allegations at this stage, and the suspect denies terrorist intent.

Sources: Le Monde, Associated Press via Reflector