Trappes suspect's list of left-wing figures shows no violent plot, prosecutors say

The attack and its victims

Kevin Tessier, 39, is under formal investigation over the attack of 23 October in Trappes and La Verrière in the Yvelines. One person was killed and seven were wounded, including at least one child. BFMTV reports that he fired 128 times with a Sten submachine gun along a route of 12 kilometres. The national anti-terrorism prosecutor, Olivier Christen, said 23 more people are considered psychological victims. Tessier has been placed under formal investigation and remanded in custody.

Killed1

Wounded7

Psychological victims23

Killed

1 people

Wounded

7 people

Psychological victims

23 people

Data from the article text

Statements in custody

According to BFMTV and RMC, Tessier decided on 27 October, after three days in custody, to stop concealing the racist motive of the attack. He told investigators he chose his targets by ethnicity or religion, and he called Trappes a stronghold of Islamists. He rejected the label of terrorist and presented himself as acting for his country. He also said he hoped to become an example for the French.

“It was to free my country, it has nothing to do with that. I'm on the right side.”

The list found at his home

Investigators searched Tessier's home soon after the attack and found a post-it with the names of left-wing figures from La France insoumise and the environmental movement, next to mobile numbers. BFMTV and RMC reported numbers for three of the targeted politicians, while the prosecutors' statement counts four public figures on the note. An anti-racist activist also appeared on it. In custody, Tessier said he had built the list from a pirate website holding stolen data, that he had not yet planned anything, and that the list "could be useful to him one day". Asked why he picked these people, the 39-year-old answered:

“They are left-wing figures, enemies of France. I only took the numbers.”

His lawyers declined to comment on his statements, according to BFMTV.

Prosecutors find no violent plan

The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said on Wednesday, 11 November, that the note was found on a table during the search and listed the names and first names of four public figures with mobile numbers beside them. In its statement, it said no element of the case supports a violent action plan against these people. The finding is limited: the list is in the file, but the investigation has found no plan to act violently against the people on it.

“No element of the procedure supports the existence of a violent action project against these individuals.”

Funeral and national homage

A funeral for one of the victims was held on Saturday, 7 November, in Guyancourt in the Yvelines, attended by hundreds of people, according to 20 Minutes. The Elysée has planned a national homage to the victims. 20 Minutes describes a child gravely injured in the attack as an 11-year-old girl, while BFMTV gives the age of a wounded child as 12.