France experiences fatal xenophobic shooting in Yvelines

A mass shooting motivated by xenophobia occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026, across the communes of Trappes and La Verrière in the Yvelines department. The suspect, who was quickly apprehended, used an antique STEN-type submachine gun to carry out a series of attacks targeting various locations, including a square, a post office, a service station, and a pharmacy.

The provisional death toll includes one 26-year-old man of African origin killed near a playground. Four others remain in critical condition, including a 12-year-old girl and three maintenance workers. Due to the suspected racial motivations, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) has taken over the investigation.

This incident follows a period of heightened social tension and has drawn significant political reactions across the country.