Paris, Oct 25. (dpa/GNA) – The suspect in a fatal shooting spree near Paris, described as a racist terrorist attack, was under the influence of drugs at the time, and reportedly told investigators he was being treated for schizophrenia.
One person was killed and five others were injured, some seriously, including a 12-year-old girl, when a man opened fire with an automatic weapon from a car in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris, on Friday morning.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident as a “racist terrorist attack,” while the mayor of Trappes said an anti-Muslim motive was possible.
The 39-year-old suspect was arrested shortly after the attack. Traces of cannabis and cocaine were subsequently found in his blood, according to the Paris counterterrorism prosecutor’s office on Sunday.
Following an initial psychiatric assessment, the man was transferred from police custody to the psychiatric outpatient unit of the Paris police prefecture. Doctors are assessing whether his mental health allows investigators to continue questioning him.
Broadcaster TF1-LCI and the newspaper Le Parisien, citing investigators, reported that the suspect told police he was receiving treatment for schizophrenia.
The counterterrorism prosecutor’s office said, relatives and friends of the suspect who were arrested following the attack, remained in police custody.
GNA