French Prosecutor Says Paris-Suburb Shooting Suspect Admitted Targeting Muslims and Africans, Charged With Terror-Linked Murder

Since the Oct. 23 shooting in the Paris suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière, the case has moved from a manhunt-style crime story to a formal terrorism prosecution. On Thursday, Oct. 29, France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (PNAT) said the suspect has admitted choosing his victims by appearance.

Prosecutor Olivier Christen told reporters that Kevin T., 39, "admitted having specifically targeted people who are of a Muslim or African, North African type." He said the suspect picked Trappes because he saw it as "a hotbed for Islamists."

The admission is a reversal. Earlier this week the suspect said he did not dispute the material facts but contested "the racist nature of his crimes."

The charges and the victims

Kevin T. was charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. The aggravating circumstance is that the offences were committed because of the victims' real or perceived membership of a race, ethnic group, nation or religion. Christen's office had asked that he be held in pretrial detention.

One man died: Pengo Bossio Wangi, 26, a French citizen of Congolese heritage and a martial artist. Seven people were wounded, four of them seriously, including an 11-year-old girl whose life is no longer in danger. Christen said three victims remain hospitalized as of Thursday, and one is still in life-threatening condition.

The suspect fired from a car and on foot, driving between the two towns west of Paris. He was arrested the same day and was found with a machine gun and tear-gas grenades in his vehicle.

Preparation and what police found

Christen stressed what he called the "very high level of preparation." Investigators established that starting in September, the suspect bought several components meant to improve a Sten-type submachine gun, a Second World War design. He also bought a police armband and handcuffs. Christen said the suspect acknowledged premeditation and said he fired "in bursts."

A search of his home in Plaisir turned up a magazine, two pairs of brass knuckles, a steel bayonet and a silencer. A booby-trap device was also found. Police recovered a Quran, a Bible and a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf.

They also found stickers reading "Long live France, RN, proud to be French," along with "100% French, long live France" and "Support for law enforcement." The suspect said he designed the stickers himself and ordered them through Amazon more than a year ago. He said he is neither a member nor a supporter of any political party. Christen said the stickers were not produced by Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN).

What the suspect still denies

Despite the admission on targeting, Kevin T. denies any "terrorist intent" and calls his actions "legitimate." He told investigators he feels "no regret." He also denied wanting to kill children, saying he may have misjudged the 11-year-old's age from her size.

The suspect reported psychological and psychiatric problems. Christen said a medical examination found no acute psychiatric decompensation and no signs of hallucinations or delusions.

The political fight

President Emmanuel Macron has called the shooting a "racist terrorist attack." On Wednesday he said "certain political movements on the far right," including the RN and "those close to them," had allowed a climate of racism "to take root."

RN lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy answered that the president himself had allowed "hateful ideologies" to flourish. Le Pen leads polls to succeed Macron in next spring's election. The RN has not been accused by prosecutors of any link to the attack, and the suspect says he has none.

Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh, a Socialist, called it a racist and probably Islamophobic attack. He later thanked Macron for visiting the town and giving the crime "all the gravity and solemnity it demands." Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had said when the inquiry opened that the terrorism-related charges looked clear.

Anti-racism demonstrations have been held around France.

What comes next

The opening of a judicial investigation puts an investigating judge in charge of the case. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will preside over a national tribute to the victims, which Green Party group leader Cyrielle Chatelain had requested. Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said the arrangements are not final because some victims are still fighting for their lives.

Whether the judge upholds the terrorism qualification, given the suspect's denial of terrorist intent, is the next legal question. The condition of the critically wounded victim will decide whether the murder count grows.