One person was killed and five others injured in a shooting during a wedding in Thionville (Moselle) on the night of Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 June, theFrance Media Agency (AFP).
Two people are seriously injured, one of whom is in a desperate condition, a police source told AFP.AFP. The perpetrators of the shooting, several armed and hooded men, fled.
The open fire « several dozen times »
The events occurred at the Eden Palace, a reception hall specializing in weddings, where around a hundred people were present.
“It was during a wedding. A group of individuals, around a quarter past one in the morning, went out to smoke in front of the room and then three heavily armed guys arrived and opened fire several dozen times in their direction.reported a police source.
The attackers arrived in a 4X4, “probably BMW brand”, according to the same source. Investigators still do not know the origin of the vehicle, particularly whether it came from Germany or Luxembourg, whose borders are around fifteen kilometers away.
The trail of a settling of scores
“We are clearly moving towards a settling of scores against a backdrop of drug trafficking,” said this source. “The marriage was not targeted as such, it was people who were at the wedding”.
On site Sunday morning, AFP reporters were able to see police officers busy taking samples in a car. At least three bullet holes are visible on a glass door giving access to the large reception room.
“Numerous shell casings were discovered at the scene », reported the regional daily The Lorraine Republican .
An investigation opened
On its website, the Eden Palace claims to be able to accommodate 600 seats and 800 guests. The property is located in a commercial area outside of Thionville. The investigation was entrusted to the Metz judicial police.
The border region of Lorraine is plagued by drug trafficking. In May 2023, in Villerupt, in the neighboring department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, gunfire between rival gangs at a drug dealing point left five people injured.
