DIRECT. Shooting in Paris: an “odious attack” for Emmanuel Macron, François Hollande deplores “racism and hatred”

The Paris police headquarters informed at midday that a police intervention is underway rue d’Enghien, in the tenth arrondissement of the capital and that a person has been arrested. This is a shooting that broke out after an individual opened fire in the middle of the street.

Via its Twitter account, the police headquarters invites Parisians to “avoid the sector” and to “let the emergency services intervene”.

9:15 p.m. Witnesses recount the scene

Our colleagues from BFM TV collected the testimonies of people who witnessed the tragedy, they recount the calm of the assailant and the courage of the employees of the hairdresser located near the Kurdish cultural center.

“He was calm, as if he had done nothing” explains a first witness, while another describes the scene. The shooter would have moved from the cultural center to a restaurant, ending his attack in the hair salon.

We saw a man armed with a pistol. He fired three shots towards the cultural center, where he killed two people, a woman and a man. Afterwards, he went towards the restaurant just opposite, where he killed a person. Then he went to the hairdresser. There he fired three shots. It was employees of the hairdressing salon who arrested the killer

One of the workers on the site next door told the story of his colleague: “He heard three shots. He came running back and screamed. He told me that someone was shooting at people.”

8:50 p.m. Reactions from François Hollande

The former President of the Republic, François Hollande, reacted to the tragedy that occurred in the Xth arrondissement this morning.

Racism and hatred have made several victims in the center of the capital. I am thinking this evening of all those who have been affected, of the Kurds in France who deserve support, solidarity, protection and justice in the face of this deadly attack.

— Francois Hollande (@fhollande) December 23, 2022

The former head of state deplores the “racism and hatred” of this shooting perpetrated in the Kurdish cultural center. It expresses its solidarity and support for the injured and the families of the victims.

Another left-wing political figure, Julien Bayou declared that “the extreme right and racism” killed. the deputy EELV of the 10th district added: “We have seen that the far right could organize itself to go and prepare ratonnades with almost total impunity. […] I think it must be said and repeated that the far right is a danger”.

8 p.m. Kurdish associations denounce “a terrorist and political attack”

During a press conference, and while the terrorist character has not yet been retained by the French authorities, Agit Polat, spokesperson for the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDKF) explained that the Kurdish community is “outraged in front of this situation”. “The political situation in Turkey makes it very clear to us that these are political assassinations,” he added.

5:50 p.m. The “Kurds of France” taken as “target”, according to Macron

While Gérald Darmanin was unable to say whether the shooting specifically targeted Kurds, in a tweet, Emmanuel Macron was more direct. The President of the Republic indeed denounces an “odious” attack against “the Kurds of France”.

5:30 p.m. Details of the balance sheet

In a press release published at the end of the afternoon by the Paris prosecutor’s office, we learn that the three deceased people are a woman and two men. In addition, one injured man is in absolute emergency and two injured men in relative emergency. The nationality of the victims was not specified.

4:40 p.m. Tension mounts at the scene of the shooting

Just after Gérald Darmanin’s visit to rue d’Enghien, a violent demonstration broke out in the area. According to BFMTV journalists on the spot, the demonstrators, visibly Kurdish, chant slogans against Turkey and the police were attacked. The latter reacted with tear gas canisters.

4:20 p.m. “The shooter obviously wanted to go after strangers”

Questioned by journalists, Gérald Darmanin, explained that the motives of the alleged killer were for the time being “unknown”. And even if he specified that he was not known for commitments in favor of the extreme right, the Minister of the Interior explains that “the shooter obviously wanted to attack foreigners”.

After having had a word for the victims and their loved ones, Gérald Darmanin congratulated the police for their “rapid intervention”.

As a precaution, and even if he specifies that the authorities were not aware of any particular threats against the Kurdish community, the Minister of the Interior explains that security around Kurdish community places will be reinforced.

4 p.m. Gérald Darmanin on site

While he was in his stronghold of Tourcoing (North), the Minister of the Interior had quickly announced that he was going to return to Paris to go to the scene of this fatal shooting. According to the images broadcast live by BFMTV Gérald Darmanin has just arrived rue d’Enghien and should then answer questions from journalists.

3 p.m. Elisabeth Borne denounces “a heinous act”

In a tweet posted shortly before 3 p.m., the Prime Minister expressed her “full support for the victims of the fatal shooting in Paris and their loved ones”. While the motives of the alleged shooter are still unknown, Elisabeth Borne denounces a “heinous act”.

2:45 p.m. Video of the alleged shooter’s arrest

The circumstances of his arrest are still vague, but we now have the images. In a video document published by BFMTVwe see the moments of the arrest of this 69-year-old man who opened fire on several people on rue d’Enghien, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris.

2:30 p.m. Investigation opened for “murder”

In a press release, the Paris prosecutor’s office indicates that an investigation “has been opened into the counts of murder, intentional homicide and aggravated violence”. The assassination chief implies that the authorities believe that the shooter anticipated his act.

Police officers from the crime squad are responsible for questioning the suspect, who is currently in custody, and assessing his profile. The anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office for its part evaluates the elements to decide whether or not to seize.

2:15 p.m. The shooter is injured

According to a press release from the town hall of the 10th arrondissement of Paris, where this shooting took place at midday, the individual who fired the shots was injured, “in relative urgency”, and was taken to hospital.

1:55 p.m. One more death

After her visit to the scene of the tragedy, the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, took stock of the first elements of the investigation and in particular confirmed the background of the author released in the press. The racist motive of the facts is part of the investigations, she further indicated.

She also explained that a new person had died after these shots. The balance sheet therefore now stands at three dead and three injured, including one in absolute emergency.

1:40 p.m. The profile and background of the shooter

According to The Parisianthe 69-year-old suspect is of French nationality and is said to have retired from the SNCF, where he worked as a driver.

Important fact for the rest of the investigation, the daily specifies that the shooter was known for two attempted homicides. According to BFM TV, he was arrested a year ago after attacking a migrant camp with a saber in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. The man was the subject of a judicial investigation for racist violence with weapons.

1:30 p.m. Gérald Darmanin will go there

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin announced at midday to return to Paris to go to rue d’Enghien. On Twitter, he also sent “all my thoughts go out to the relatives of the victims”.

1:10 p.m. “He shot blind in the street”

Present at the scene of the tragedy which occurred at the end of the morning, BFMTV was able to question Ali, witness to the shooting, and who explains that he called the emergency services. According to, the shooter started to open fire in the street from the Kurdish cultural center.

12:45 p.m. Prosecutors report two deaths

In a last report published, the prosecution reports two people died and four injured, including two in absolute emergency.

12:25 p.m. At least one dead

According to BFM TVa first provisional assessment reports one death, two people in absolute emergency and several others injured.

12:30 p.m. 69-year-old man arrested

According to BFM TV, the shooter, a 69-year-old man, was arrested. We do not know for the moment his motivations, further specifies the news channel on its website.

12:25 p.m. The drama was played out at the Kurdish Cultural Center Ahmet-Kaya

The Parisian explains that the drama took place at the Kurdish Cultural Center Ahmet-Kaya, at 16 rue d’Enghien.

12:15 p.m. A shooting in the heart of Paris.

Via its Twitter account, the police headquarters warns that a police intervention is underway on rue d’Enghien, in the 10th arrondissement of the capital, and that a person had been arrested.

AFP immediately explained that several people had been injured after gunshots.