The shooting took place at the Kurdish cultural center and in an adjacent hair salon in central Paris.

The man, a 69-year-old retired train driver, was overpowered in a hair salon and was later arrested by the police.

Upon arrest, the man stated that he had committed the crime for racist reasons, reports Le Monde.

Three people died in connection with the attack and three were injured.

The suspect is charged with murder, attempted murder with racial motives and illegal acquisition and possession of weapons, AP reports.

History of racist violence

According to prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the man must have stated in questioning that a burglary at his home in 2016 triggered "a hatred of foreigners that became totally pathological", reports Reuters.

The man has previously been convicted of weapons offences.

In 2021, he was suspected of stabbing two people in a migrant facility with a sword.

Days before the crime at the cultural center, he should have been released on bail, the BBC reports.

"We are afraid"

Friday's attack came nearly ten years after the murder of three Kurdish female activists in Paris, a crime that remains unsolved.

The Kurdish community has expressed anger at French authorities who they believe could have done more to prevent Friday's attack, Le Monde reports.

Thousands of people gathered on Saturday for a minute's silence for the three victims, which resulted in violent protests and clashes with police.

- The Kurdish community is afraid.

It was already traumatized by the triple murder.

We need answers, support and consideration, said David Andic, a lawyer representing the Kurdish Democratic Council in France, Reuters reports.

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"When we entered the salon, we saw three injured people" - Hear the eyewitness of the shooting in Paris.

Photo: EBU