In a devastating incident of gun violence, a 24-year-old woman fell victim to a stray bullet that barged into her apartment in the heart of Marseille, France. She was mortally wounded when the bullet, randomly fired, penetrated the window panel of her room. Once a peaceful city, the rhythm of Marseille has been disturbed by an alarming escalation of violence prompted by drug-related gang clashes. According to the recent toll, such violence has already claimed 40 lives this year.
The young woman was the third innocent casualty of such horrific episodes. Her life came to an abrupt halt when her third-floor apartment in the Saint-Thys district was caught in a sudden blaze of Kalashnikov gunfire on a quiet Sunday night.
“She was rushed to the hospital, her life hanging by a thread due to a severe head wound. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of Tuesday,” as conveyed by Marseille chief prosecutor Dominique Laurens.
The site of the unfortunate incident lies in close proximity to a pharmacy identified by the law enforcers as a hotspot for drug dealers. On investigation, 23 Kalashnikov bullet casings were found at the crime scene.
“It demonstrates flagrant use of weapons of war for asserting dominance over new territories,” observed Frédérique Camilleri, the police chief for the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which Marseille is a part. The chief also mentioned that additional police units were being dispatched to the affected area.
Sharing the somber sentiments, Gerald Darmanin – French Interior Minister called the incident an “absolute tragedy”, assuring additional resources for the police department. Darmanin also unveiled new facilities for France’s elite police unit, Raid in the city of Marseille.
Renowned for its history stained with violent conflict due to disputes between rival drug networks, Marseille is witnessing a surge in brutality at the worst possible time. With the bustling Mediterranean port city hosting significant events including a Papal visit, Rugby World Cup matches, and the incidents of violence are concerning.
On another parallel, a 55-year-old man was shot to death in the poverty-ridden district in the north of the city, notorious for the high density of drug trafficking. The alleged culprits were reported to be two individuals on a motorcycle.
Criminal bands, namely Yoda and DZ Mafia are reported to be orchestrating most of the shootings in the northern part of Marseille, pressing concerns mainly in the high-rise territory of La Paternelle.
Marseille’s prosecutor’s office has documented over 90 murder attempts, and successful ones stemming from drug trafficking in France’s second-largest city. Within this year alone, the casualty statistics are at an alarming figure of 43 deaths and 109 injuries.
The last month alone saw two casualties in the southern city of Nîmes, as a young man of 18 and a boy of just 10 fell prey to gruesome attacks, roots of which trace back to drug trade conflicts.
