Story perspectives

France opens terrorism probe after car gun attack

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 10:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Shooter Attacks Petrol Station

Mayor Ali Rabeh reported a gunman killed one person and wounded five, including a 12-year-old girl.
The 39-year-old shooter fired an automatic weapon from car at a petrol station, medical centre and playground.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the attack a terrorist crime with a possible racist motive.
Prosecutors opened a murder-in-connection-with-terrorism probe.
President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Élisabeth Lecornu called the attack very serious and mobilised security forces.

Summary

Police Identify Suspect

Police identified the 32-year-old suspect as a North-African male with a violent-offence record.
Investigators recovered the handgun at the scene and confirmed it matched the weapon seized from the suspect.
Authorities increased patrols and deployed armed units to nearby schools and public spaces after the attacks.
The interior ministry announced a comprehensive review of France’s gun-control laws and emergency response procedures.

History

Historical Context

On 13 November 2015 Islamist militants killed 130 people in coordinated Paris attacks, prompting President François Hollande to declare a state of emergency and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve to add 7,000 police and €1.5 billion for counter-terrorism. Those emergency powers were extended for months and now shape today’s response as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez opens a terrorism probe after the Carcassonne shootings.

1 of 3

Shooter Attacks Petrol Station

Mayor Ali Rabeh reported a gunman killed one person and wounded five, including a 12-year-old girl.
The 39-year-old shooter fired an automatic weapon from car at a petrol station, medical centre and playground.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the attack a terrorist crime with a possible racist motive.
Prosecutors opened a murder-in-connection-with-terrorism probe.
President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Élisabeth Lecornu called the attack very serious and mobilised security forces.

1 / 3