In the middle of the blocks of buildings, stand several plots of lawn and a playground for children. It is at this precise location, Clos-Toreau district in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), that a shooting broke out this Wednesday, April 27 around 4:30 p.m. A young man in his twenties was injured, his life is not in danger. The shooter, masked at the time, managed to flee.
For the locals, there is no doubt that this is a settling of accounts between rival gangs. “They don’t even bother to hide anymore“, laments Bernard. “It happens day and night, they have no limits. I don’t fear them, but others are much more afraid than me”. When Bernard says “they“, he speaks of these young people who revolve around the “deal points” of the district.
We see a lot of urban rodeos, thefts, motorcycle fires… We don’t know what to do anymore” – Philippe, a resident of the neighborhood.
Many regulars of the place affirm it, the settling of scores has multiplied lately. “There are people who are at the end of their tether, on the verge of a nervous breakdown“, according to Philippe. He has lived in the neighborhood for eight years. He has even just file a complaint against the mayor of Nantes Johanna Rolland for failure to assist a person in danger and endangering the life of others.
A complaint filed against the mayor of Nantes
Philippe is now asking the city’s elected officials to fight more against insecurity, and to deploy police patrols more regularly in neighborhoods like Clos-Toreau. “Here in any case, apart from the shooting we do not see them“, according to him. CCTV cameras have been installed everywhere around the bars of buildings, “offenders continue to act, and often times with total impunity, since no one comes to control them“.
Residents changing neighborhoods
Other residents, much more resigned, seek above all to leave the area as soon as possible. Catherine, for example, a young mother, filed a transfer file for two years with his social landlord. “Still no answer, and not sure we’ll get one right away. We are not ranked as a priority. The problem is that I have neighbors who filed a request twenty years ago and still have not obtained satisfaction.“.
The lack of social housing is indeed felt in the Nantes metropolis. For two years, the number of applicants has indeed increased, while the supply is down. “As we can see, there are a lot of people who want to be transferred, but it’s mission impossible. There are people who sometimes wait five, ten years, even if they have priority“.