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Several individuals opened fire with heavy weapons on the business, threatening its manager before setting the premises on fire. Eight people were evacuated from the building, which was partly on fire. The suspects fled.
Le Figaro Marseille
A new brand targeted by armed criminals in Marseille. During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, several individuals burst into front of the entrance to a convenience store on 15e district of the city by opening fire with heavy weapons. The shooters then set fire to the premises before fleeing in a car.
According to a police source, it was a witness to the incident who heard several gunshots who alerted the police around 2 a.m. She would have seen an individual “run away” before seeing flames escaping from a small food store. Dispatched to the site, Marseille firefighters managed to contain the fire, visibly started by the suspects.
The fire, started at the premises, took hold of 1is floor of the building. The 34 square meters of the supermarket were completely destroyed by the flames. No injuries were reported according to the firefighters, who still had to evacuate eight people and transport a woman in her forties to the North hospital for observation.
A new extortion attempt?
On site, firefighters found several 7.62 mm cartridge cases as well as shotgun cartridges. According to the first elements of the investigation, which is based in particular on images from video surveillance cameras and testimonies, the criminals threatened the manager of the convenience store before opening fire on his business with Kalashnikovs and shotgun. After setting fire to the premises, they fled in a vehicle. They were still actively sought this Thursday morning.
Facts which recall another attack on businesses in the northern districts of Marseille which occurred at the start of the week. During the night from Sunday to Monday, two individuals armed with a Kalashnikov opened fire in the direction of a business in the 14th arrondissement. Handling “with difficulty” the assault rifle, they also fled. An investigation was opened and entrusted to the Territorial Crime Division (DCT).
This intimidation is most likely linked to the turf war waged by several drug trafficking gangs, such as the DZ Mafia. The criminal gang, initially specialized in the import and resale of narcotics, has recently expanded its scope of activity to include extortion and racketeering of businesses, restaurants and nightclubs in the Marseille region.
