In France a drug trafficking-related, shooting in Poitiers, western France, erupted into a massive brawl involving up to 600 people on Thursday night, according to French authorities. The incident began with a drive-by shooting at a local restaurant, injuring five individuals, including a 15-year-old boy who is in critical condition after being shot in the head.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau characterized the violence as an alarming indication of escalating drug-related crime in the country. He pointed to a recent shooting in Rennes that killed a five-year-old boy, emphasizing that such violence is occurring in French cities rather than distant lands. “We are at a tipping point… the choice we have today is between general mobilization or the Medicalization of the country”.
He said, referencing the severe issues of drug cartel violence in Mexico. The mayor of Poitiers condemned the shooting as “an unacceptable new episode of violence for the neighborhood.” Witnesses reported that shots were fired from a passing car, and photos from the scene revealed the restaurant’s facade covered in bullet holes.
Following the shooting, tensions escalated into fighting among rival groups, prompting intervention from local police and gendarmes. Retailleau noted that between “400 to 600” people were involved in the ensuing melee. He planned to visit Rennes, where another drug-related shooting had occurred just days prior, resulting in the tragic death of a child. While the drug trade in France has traditionally been associated with cities like Marseille, recent research indicates that its influence is spreading to medium-sized towns and rural areas. This shift underscores the growing concern over drug-related violence across the nation.
