Anti-terrorism prosecutor probes into motive of France shooting

The office of the anti-terrorism prosecutor of France is considering whether the shooting of a Tunisian national in the European country was a racially-driven attack related to a terrorist operation, Middle East Monitor via Reuters reported on June 3rd.

A neighbour in Puget-sur-Argens shot the Tunisian national dead. officials have not yet identified the victim. Officials estimate the Tunisian to be about 35 years old. Additionally, a 25-year-old Turkish national was shot in the hand. Hospital staff admitted the national for treatment.

French media said the man pledged loyalty to the French flag, according to The Guardian on June 3rd. He called on citizens to track and shoot individuals of foreign descent. Specialist prosecutors announced they launched a probe into a “terrorist plot” driven by victims’ race or religion. A source familiar with the case told AFP the suspect aimed to “disrupt public order through terror.”

On June 2nd, the prosecutor’s office told Reuters that racially-driven assassination, is among the charges it is investigating.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau denounced the May 31st shooting, posting on X that “racism must be severely punished.” Political critics claim his views on immigration and Islam have fueled more hate crimes. Police in France noted an 11% increase in racist, xenophobic, or anti-religious offenses in 2024, based on official data released in March 2025.

The killing followed the deadly stabbing  of Aboubakar Cissé’s inside a Mosque in France, with Cissé’s family stressing it was a terrorist, Africanews reported on May 2nd. French officials had classified the act as aggravated murder.

Cissé allegedly arrived in France as a teenager. An attorney for Cissé’s family stated that “the Muslim community must be treated in the same way as any other citizens,” according to Arab News via AFP on May 2nd.

Middle East Monitor via Reuters, The Guardian, Arab News via AFP, Africanews