French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "deep emotion" on Friday (October 23) after a gunman opened fire from a car southwest of Paris, killing one person and wounding four others including a 12-year-old girl, French authorities said.

The shooting comes at a moment of particular tension in France, after nationwide protests turned violent last Saturday and ahead of possible unrest this coming weekend.

Ali Rabeh, the mayor of the town of Trappes southwest of Paris, told broadcaster BFM that a man had fired shoots from a car and "appeared to be firing at random and seemed intent on carrying out a massacre."

Rabeh said the gunman was driving on a road from Trappes to neighbouring La Verriere and lived in a nearby town.

BFM reported that the wounded 12-year-old girl had been hit eight times.

The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said its investigation included looking at whether the shooting was a terrorist act or if it were racially or religiously motivated.

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Macron expresses 'deep emotion' as police make arrest in fatal French shooting

VIDEO SHOWS: POLICE ON ONE OF SITES OF SHOOTING IN TRAPPES, SOUTHWEST OF PARIS / SOCIAL MEDIA POST BY FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, AFTER SHOOTING

SHOWS: TRAPPES, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF POLICE AND CORDON AT SCENE OF SHOOTING

INTERNET (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE – Access all)

2. SOCIAL MEDIA POST MADE BY FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, READING (French): “Deep emotion following the shooting attack that took place in Trappes and La Verrière. One person has died. Several others have sustained serious injuries. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all the residents of the Yvelines department. In this terrible ordeal, the Nation stands by their side. We express our gratitude to our law enforcement officers, who have already apprehended the perpetrator. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has taken up the case.”

TRAPPES, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

3. VARIOUS OF POLICE AT PETROL STATION

4. POLICE ON MOTORCYCLE

5. MASKED POLICE OFFICER

6. VARIOUS OF POLICE

7. POLICE CORDON TAPE AROUND SCENE