Three men, aged 16, 21 and 23, were killed in the shootings that took place this weekend in Marseille.
Investigators move forward after series of shootings that left three dead and 12 injured over the weekend in Marseille. Four people were arrested, announced Monday, April 3 the public prosecutor of Marseille, during a press conference. Their custody has just started, said Dominique Laurens.
A first shooting took place on Saturday evening in the city of Félix-Pyat (3rd arrondissement), where four people were injured. Another broke out on Sunday evening in the city of Castellas (15th arrondissement). It had continued a few minutes later in another district of the city, towards the city of Aygalades. Two men, aged 21 and 23, died and six others were injured.
A final shooting took place on Monday, shortly after midnight, rue Vincent-Leblanc (2nd arrondissement), near La Joliette, in the city center. A 16-year-old boy died, two others (aged 14 and 15) were injured, one very seriously, detailed Dominique Laurens. It is in the context of this case that the arrests took place.
Fourteen people killed since the beginning of the year
For now, “we have not found any evidence showing that these three cases, that of April 1, that of April 2 at the very end of the evening, and that of April 3 at the very beginning of the day, are connected with each other”added the magistrate. However, she believes that“it is obvious that these facts are related” with “double logic”one “territorial control” and a second of “vendetta, retaliation”.
“We are in a very worrying dynamic” And “we think it will continue in the months to come”, Dominique Laurens was alarmed. Dsince the beginning of the year, 32 procedures were opened for assassination by an organized gang or attempted assassination by an organized gang in Marseille. A total of 14 people were killed and 43 people were injured in settling scores, according to the prosecutor.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced Monday evening the deployment “in the next few hours” of the CRS 8, a police unit specialized in maintaining order and urban violence. Besides, “11 judicial police officers” will arrive in Marseille by September to reinforce the Research and Intervention Brigade and “create an additional group to the crime squad”.