Macron challenged after racist Trappes shooting
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L’essentiel
Emmanuel Macron is criticised after calling the shooting between Trappes and La Verrière, which left one dead and five injured, the “first” racist terrorist attack. Political figures and associations accuse him of ignoring earlier attacks targeting people because of their religion, according to Agence France-Presse.
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after calling the planned terrorist attack targeting people because of their skin colour or religion the “first”, following the shooting in Trappes and La Verrière. Several political figures accuse him of obscuring earlier attacks, Agence France-Presse reported in an article published by L’essentiel on 24 October.
Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj described the statement as “factually false” and politically problematic. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, also said that French people had already been killed in attacks motivated by their skin colour or religion. Right-wing MEP François-Xavier Bellamy and far-right MEP Sarah Knafo also criticised the head of state’s remarks.
The shooting left one person dead and five injured on Friday between Trappes and La Verrière, in Yvelines, France. The suspect, who is suspected of targeting people from immigrant backgrounds, was arrested and placed in police custody. Macron described the attack as a racist terrorist attack during a visit to Trappes on 23 October.
The controversy concerns the classification of the attack, after Macron denounced it as a racist terrorist attack. The suspect had been described as citing a racist motive.
