DOMINANT ANGLE
Belgrade first takes note of Emmanuel Macron's words, who describes the Trappes shooting as a terrorist and racist attack, and frames it within a climate of social tensions in France.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Macron said: "What happened today is a turning point," deeming the attack terrorist and racist, targeting people for their skin color or religion (Politika).
- 02
A 39-year-old suspect, identified as Kevin T., was arrested; one person is dead, including a 12-year-old girl among the seriously injured, hit eight times according to BFMTV (Politika).
- 03
The mayor of Trappes, Ali Rabeh, told BFM TV that the shooter fired randomly and that it was "miraculous" there were no other victims (Beta).
ANALYSIS
Belgrade, October 24, 2026. The Serbian press reports on the Trappes shooting from two complementary angles: the words of the French president and the social unrest in which the attack occurred.
Politika headlines with Emmanuel Macron, who deemed it a terrorist and racist attack, after an assailant opened fire in several locations in Trappes, killing one person and injuring five. Among the injured is a 12-year-old girl, hit eight times according to the BFMTV channel and in critical condition. According to available information, the shooter fired an automatic weapon at a gas station, a medical center, and a children's playground. The police arrested a 39-year-old suspect, identified as Kevin T., whose last name was not released. "What happened today is a turning point," Macron said, adding that, based on the known elements, the attack targeted people because of their skin color or religion.
The daily newspaper specifies that the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the case. This institution is competent to investigate suspected terrorist attacks, including violence motivated by a far-right ideology. The final conclusions on the motives will depend on the investigation and the evidence gathered.
The Beta agency gives a more cautious account, in real-time: one person killed and four injured in a shooting from a moving vehicle near Paris, a suspect arrested near Trappes, motives still "nebulous" according to the police. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that all available means, including security forces and judicial authorities, were mobilized. The mayor of Trappes, Ali Rabeh, told BFM TV that the shooter had fired randomly at passersby: "It's a real miracle there aren't more victims." According to him, the person killed is of African origin and one of the seriously injured is of North African origin.
Both texts finally place the attack in a context of tension. Politika recalls the violence during the October 17 demonstrations and the approach of new demonstrations; some right-wing officials had blamed the unrest on immigration. Beta mentions the expected protests against the cost of living and the deployment of many more police officers to prevent new unrest, like those of the previous week.
