Trappes Shooting: 64-Year-Old Man Detained in France Over Alleged Terrorism Apology

Yesterday 21:30

A 64-year-old man has been taken into police custody in Évry, south of Paris, on suspicion of publicly condoning terrorism after allegedly praising the suspected perpetrator of a deadly shooting in the Yvelines region. His arrest follows an online report to Pharos, the French government’s platform for flagging potentially illegal internet content.

According to police sources cited by Agence France-Presse on Sunday, October 25, the man was arrested on Saturday after posting a comment on TikTok about the shooting that struck the towns of Trappes and La Verrière on Friday, October 23. Investigators allege that he described the suspected gunman as a “hero”.

The detention concerns a separate investigation into the alleged online statement. Authorities have not publicly identified the man, and the allegations against him have not resulted in a reported court judgment.

Online Comment Triggers Police Investigation

The case began with a report submitted through Pharos, a national system that enables internet users to alert authorities to potentially unlawful online material. Following the report, police identified and detained the man in Évry, in the Essonne department.

He is being investigated on suspicion of apologie du terrorisme, a French criminal offence involving the public glorification or justification of terrorist acts. The precise legal assessment of the comment will depend on the investigation and any subsequent prosecutorial decision.

Police sources said the man appears in France’s criminal-record information system in connection with ordinary offences, but was not previously known to the territorial intelligence services.

The Évry public prosecutor’s office had not issued an immediate public comment when the information was reported.

Separate Proceedings After the Trappes and La Verrière Attack

The arrest comes amid a wider anti-terrorism investigation into the shootings in Trappes and neighbouring La Verrière, west of Paris. The attack on October 23 left one person dead and five others injured, according to reports published by French media.

France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office took charge of the main investigation, examining suspected offences including murder and attempted murder linked to a terrorist enterprise, with a possible racist or discriminatory motive.

President Emmanuel Macron described the attack as a racist terrorist act, while investigators continued examining the circumstances and the suspected gunman’s motives.

The 64-year-old man detained in Évry is not identified as the principal shooting suspect. His case instead centres on the alleged online praise for the attack and is being treated separately from the investigation into the violence itself.

Authorities Continue Examining Online Content

The case highlights the role of online reporting mechanisms in identifying statements that may constitute criminal offences under French law. Pharos allows users to report content they believe violates the law, enabling authorities to assess whether further investigation is warranted.

However, a report does not establish that a crime has been committed. Investigators must examine the content and circumstances before prosecutors determine whether formal charges are justified.

The arrest also illustrates how the aftermath of a violent incident can lead to separate legal proceedings involving reactions published on social media. In this case, the investigation into the alleged comment remains distinct from the judicial process concerning the shooting.

Investigation Remains Ongoing

As of October 25, no public announcement had been made confirming whether the 64-year-old man would face formal charges or be brought before a court. His detention remains an investigative measure, and he is presumed innocent.

Meanwhile, the authorities continue to investigate the deadly attack in Trappes and La Verrière, including its suspected motives and potential links to terrorism. The two cases involve different alleged offences and must be assessed independently as the investigations progress.