One person was left injured after a shootout occurred in the Mosson-la Paillade district in the French city of Montpellier, local media reported. According to the reports, several people wearing masks were involved in the heavy shooting. Witnesses say the individuals were carrying handguns.
Videos posted on social media show three persons firing weapons at individuals dressed in black. Police have confirmed the authenticity of the footage. Montpellier mayor Michael Delafosse condemned the shooting and said two drug gangs were responsible for the incident. Accoridng to AFP, the criminals were settling scores.
🔴 Fusillade à #Montpellier !#LaRacailleTue #confinementSaison2 pic.twitter.com/JAnSWfJMyr
— Stop®️acailles 🇫🇷 (@stop_racailles) November 1, 2020
Local police officers, gendarmes from the Operation Sentinel tasked with combatting terrorism, as well as the French National Police were deployed to the scene. The area has been sealed off.
Fusillade à #Montpellier : une personne a été blessée dans l'affrontement entre les deux bandes rivales. Des étuis de cartouches ont été retrouvés sur place (Midi Libre). pic.twitter.com/C5Yr7z0eok
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) November 1, 2020
Local media say one of the men involved in the shooting was injured and has been taken to hospital. The extent of his injuries is unknown so far. Michael Delafosse said that additional police forces would be deployed to the area in the coming days to ensure public safety.
The investigation into the shooting has been handed over to the judicial police.
Montpellier is one of France’s most crime-ridden cities, and according to Rémy Alonso, a representative of the French police union Alliance Police Nationale, there has been a rise in violence in the city and criminals no longer hesitate to exchange gunfire in the middle of the day.
