Thousands of people gathered in Trappes, a suburb of Paris, France, on Friday to honour victims of a shooting attack that killed one person and injured seven others, as concerns over racism and far-right extremism continue to spark debate across the country.
The gathering, held a week after the October 23 attack, was organised to show solidarity with the victims and condemn racial hatred.
The shooting in Trappes, a southwestern suburb of Paris, reportedly targeted people of Muslim or African backgrounds.
The attack has intensified discussions about racism in French politics and the media, coming months before the country’s presidential election.
Anti-terrorist prosecutors said the 39-year-old suspect, identified as Kevin T, admitted during questioning on Thursday that he had been looking for victims of “Muslim, African or North African type”.
Investigators also reportedly found a copy of Adolf Hitler’s book, “Mein Kampf”, and stickers bearing references to the far-right National Rally party among his belongings.
However, the suspect denied supporting any particular political party.
Speaking at the gathering, Imad, a Trappes resident and head of a local non-governmental organisation, Aider, said the event was important in demonstrating opposition to hateful ideologies.
“It was very important for us to come together because there are people who hold harmful ideologies—like that individual. But there are far, far more people who hold good, healthy ideologies, and who believe that living together will overcome racism,” he said.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, whose second and final term ends in May, accused the National Rally of contributing to an atmosphere of racism in France during a YouTube interview on Thursday.
Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh also criticised the far-right party during Friday’s gathering, arguing that the shooting was motivated by hatred rather than random violence.
“Open your eyes.
The killer did not choose his victims at random,” Rabeh said.
“His hatred did not come from nowhere. It was inoculated into his mind,” he added, accusing the National Rally.
However, the party rejected suggestions that it had any connection with the attack.
Its lawmaker, Jean-Philippe Tanguy, instead blamed Macron’s administration for the spread of hatred in the country.
“It’s Macron who has run France for the past nine years. It’s on his watch that antisemitism, homophobia and hate have spread through France. He is to blame,” Tanguy told TF1.
