Three locations attacked in about 15 minutes
The gunman struck at a gas station, a medical center and a children's playground during an approximately 15-minute span. Police detained a 39-year-old suspect within 20 minutes of the first shots.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the man killed was 26 and of African origin. One of the critically wounded victims was of North African origin, he said.
Three people remained in serious condition on the day of the attack, including a 12-year-old girl, the BBC reported. Her mother told French broadcaster RTL that the girl had suffered eight gunshot wounds and needed surgery. She also said her daughter was wearing a headscarf and questioned whether that had prompted the attack.
The two towns are working-class suburbs in the Yvelines department, roughly 20 kilometers (13 miles) west of Paris near Versailles, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
Terrorism inquiry and weapons discoveries
France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, known as PNAT, assumed responsibility for the case. Its murder investigation concerns a terrorist enterprise and includes an aggravating factor related to race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
PNAT said the inquiry also covers "possession of a Category A weapon" and "conspiracy with a terrorist group for the purpose of preparing crimes against persons".
Authorities recovered a Sten-type submachine gun and tear gas from the suspect's vehicle. The anti-terrorism prosecutor identified the weapon as a British-made, World War II-era Sten gun and the tear gas as a grenade.
A search of the suspect's home uncovered three gas cylinders wired to a timer. Police also took a member of his immediate family into custody.
Suspect's identity and record
Authorities identified the suspect as Kevin T., withholding his full surname. Born in 1987 in Saint-Cyr-l'École, he is a French citizen who lives in Plaisir, next to Trappes.
He was known to police and had four previous convictions that PNAT said had been "automatically expunged". France's intelligence services did not know him, and he was not listed among people considered a serious threat to French security.
Macron visits Trappes
Macron traveled to Trappes later on Friday. He called the attack "a turning point in the life of our Republic and our nation" and said France had never before experienced a random racial killing like this.
Nuñez described the shooting as "clearly a terrorist crime". Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called it "very serious" and said the security forces and judicial authorities had fully mobilized all available resources.
The attack came ahead of another day of protests over the high cost of living planned for Saturday. Major museums in Paris and other cities were closing, while the government was deploying 70,000 security personnel, Nuñez said.
