DAccording to media reports, the alleged perpetrator of the fatal attack at a Kurdish community center in Paris describes himself as a racist. The broadcaster France Info reported on Saturday, citing informed circles, that the man gave this as the reason for his act. The broadcaster BFMTV also wrote that the man had told the police that he wanted to specifically attack the Kurdish community.
On Friday, a man fired several shots and killed three people in a Kurdish community center as well as a restaurant and a hairdressing salon opposite the center. Three other people were injured in the attack in the tenth arrondissement of Paris. According to the Kurdish umbrella organization Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDK-F), all the victims are Kurdish activists.
The alleged perpetrator was arrested. The public prosecutor is investigating the 69-year-old Frenchman for intentional killing and serious violence.
“He obviously wanted to attack foreigners,” said France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. However, it is unclear whether the attack was explicitly aimed at Kurds. The motive is unknown, the suspect was not registered as a right-wing extremist by the security authorities, but a right-wing background to the crime is being examined. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter: “The Kurds in France were the target of a vile attack in the middle of Paris.”
The suspect had just been released from custody a few days ago. Last year he attacked a migrant camp and injured several people. According to media reports, in 2016 he attacked a man with a knife.
