Kurds protest in central Paris after allegedly racist attack

Supporters and members of the Kurdish community in France demonstrated this Saturday (24) in the center of the capital, Paris, to demand answers about the murder of three people in a Kurdish cultural center this Friday (23).

Many carried Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) flags and posters with pictures of the victims — among them Emine Kara, leader of the Kurdish women’s movement in the European country.

The AFP news agency reported, based on information from an unnamed person involved in the case, that William M., 69, the gunman, confessed to killing people because he was racist.

A retired French train conductor, he is being investigated for attempted murder, violence with a firearm and racist offenses. The last charge was added last, and the prosecution has told local newspapers that the maximum sentence in the case is life.

With him, a box of 45 caliber cartridges was found with at least 25 cartridges inside.

The attack took place on rue d’Enghien, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, shortly before 12:00 local time (08:00 GMT). According to the mayor of the district, Alexandra Cordebard, the attacker first broke into the Kurdish community centre, went to a restaurant across the street and then to a hairdressing salon.

“We know that Kurds, military and activists of the cause are under threat,” Berivan Dirat, spokesman for the Kurdish Democratic Council of France (CDK-F) told a local broadcaster. “France owes us protection.”

David Andic, a lawyer for the group, told reporters that the attack had escalated fears in the community. “We were already traumatized by the triple murder of 2013,” he said, referring to the death of three short activists also in Paris. “We need answers and support.”

On Twitter, the CDK claims that Emine Kara, one of those killed this Friday, was murdered while coordinating the organization of mobilizations on the tenth anniversary of the death of the activists, scheduled for January.