Four shot and injured in Poitiers during violence between drug gangs

Published on: 01/11/2024 – 11:01

1 min

Four other people – including two 16-year-olds – were shot and injured during clashes involving up to 600 people on Thursday evening.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau linked the violence to drug gangs.

“These shootings are not taking place in South America, but here in France,” he told French broadcaster RMC.

“Last Saturday, a five-year-old child was hit by bullets in Rennes and is still in hospital.

“We are at a tipping point and the choice we have today is between a general mobilization against this kind of thing or the Mexicanization of the country.”

Police said the first attack took place in the city’s Les Couronneries district. Several men shot at a restaurant and fled in a car.

The fight broke out after the first shooting, police said.

“Tensions broke out between different groups, requiring the intervention of the police and gendarmerie,” said police chiefs in the Vienne region, where the city is located.

Police reinforcements are expected to arrive in the city during Friday.