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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Marseille: at least one injured after masked gang opens fire in French city | Marseille: at least one injured after masked gang opens fire in French city |
| (21 days later) | |
| Hooded gunmen armed with AK-47s have opened fire near a group of young people on a housing estate outside the French Mediterranean city of Marseille before reportedly taking a man hostage. | Hooded gunmen armed with AK-47s have opened fire near a group of young people on a housing estate outside the French Mediterranean city of Marseille before reportedly taking a man hostage. |
| At least one person was injured when the gunmen, all dressed in black, drew up in three vehicles, and began shooting near a cultural centre in the Busserine district. | At least one person was injured when the gunmen, all dressed in black, drew up in three vehicles, and began shooting near a cultural centre in the Busserine district. |
| The local newspaper La Provence reported that the armed gang appeared to be looking for someone and threatened locals before firing several times into the air. They then grabbed a youth and drove off. | The local newspaper La Provence reported that the armed gang appeared to be looking for someone and threatened locals before firing several times into the air. They then grabbed a youth and drove off. |
| Police said the incident was not being investigated as terrorism. | Police said the incident was not being investigated as terrorism. |
| Amateur film footage posted on Twitter showed at least half a dozen black-clad gunmen firing, apparently at random, on the estate. Witnesses said the group brandished several semi-automatic rifles and at least one handgun. | Amateur film footage posted on Twitter showed at least half a dozen black-clad gunmen firing, apparently at random, on the estate. Witnesses said the group brandished several semi-automatic rifles and at least one handgun. |
| Corrupt, dangerous and brutal to its poor – but is Marseille the future of France? | Corrupt, dangerous and brutal to its poor – but is Marseille the future of France? |
| The local prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said the gunmen were involved in an exchange of fire with police called to the scene who found their squad car blocked by a Renault Megane belonging to the gang. After a brief shootout the gunmen sped off. | The local prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said the gunmen were involved in an exchange of fire with police called to the scene who found their squad car blocked by a Renault Megane belonging to the gang. After a brief shootout the gunmen sped off. |
| “According to a witness, one person was abducted in a car whose occupants shot in the air several times,” Tarabeux told local journalists. | “According to a witness, one person was abducted in a car whose occupants shot in the air several times,” Tarabeux told local journalists. |
| A Marseille police officer said “numerous bullet casings” had been found at the scene. He added that the incident was not being investigated as a terrorist attack. | A Marseille police officer said “numerous bullet casings” had been found at the scene. He added that the incident was not being investigated as a terrorist attack. |
| The shooting happened shortly before 5pm local time. The injured man was taken to hospital with a minor head injury after one of the gunmen hit him with the rifle butt. | The shooting happened shortly before 5pm local time. The injured man was taken to hospital with a minor head injury after one of the gunmen hit him with the rifle butt. |
| Busserine, one of Marseille’s northern housing estates, in the city’s 14th arrondissement, is a district of high unemployment, poverty and drug gangs. In 2016 police smashed what was described as a “drug supermarket” with around 450 regular customers and takings of up to €15,000 ($18,000) a day. | Busserine, one of Marseille’s northern housing estates, in the city’s 14th arrondissement, is a district of high unemployment, poverty and drug gangs. In 2016 police smashed what was described as a “drug supermarket” with around 450 regular customers and takings of up to €15,000 ($18,000) a day. |
| France television reported that six people have been killed in alleged gang-related shootings since the beginning of the year. | France television reported that six people have been killed in alleged gang-related shootings since the beginning of the year. |
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