Gangland shootout in western France leaves five minors injured

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00It was in front of this restaurant that the fight broke out around 10.45 p.m. Thursday evening with

00:05the sound of gunshots. A shootout between two gangs of minors, aged 14 to 16, armed with rifles

00:11and handguns. Five people were injured, among them a 15-year-old who's fighting for his life

00:17after taking a bullet to the head. What started as a shooting at a restaurant ended up in a fight

00:24between rival gangs that involved several hundred people. I am told that the prefect

00:30made a report quoting between four to six hundred people. The mayor of Poitiers arrived at the scene

00:36Friday morning to comfort the residents still in shock. I have kids and it makes me sad.

00:43We need to find a solution. The shooting took place against a backdrop of drug trafficking

00:48in an area known as the home to several rendezvous points for dealers. The mayor

00:52says around 60 residents bore witness to the brawl. As you can see it's a commercial area

00:59with restaurants and takeaway places. So there were many people already present who either called

01:05for help or told others about the incident which then drew even more people to the scene.

01:12An investigation is underway for attempted murder. Authorities are still on the lookout

01:16for the alleged shooters who they hope to identify with the surveillance cameras in the square.

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