A 27-year-old bride was killed when gunmen attacked a marriage occasion in a village in southeastern France, with one of many assailants additionally dying throughout the assault, prosecutors mentioned on Sunday.
Three different folks, together with a baby, had been injured within the assault, which plunged the tiny picturesque village of Goult into shock.
In accordance with a supply near the investigation, the violence is perhaps linked to potential drug-related score-settling.
At round 4:30 am, the newlyweds had been leaving the occasion once they had been confronted by masked assailants who opened fireplace, the supply mentioned.
The deceased are the bride and one of many attackers, who was hit “in return,” mentioned Avignon prosecutor Florence Galtier with out offering additional particulars. In accordance with earlier info, the attacker was run over by the bride and groom’s automobile.
Three folks had been injured. Of them, the 25-year-old groom and a 13-year-old who was within the couple’s automobile obtained severe accidents. Officers didn’t say if the kid was associated to the couple, however a supply near the case instructed the Solar the 13-year-old was the newlyweds’ son.
In accordance with the prosecutor, the attackers, who arrived by automobile, carried a number of weapons. They fled on foot after the assault.
The Avignon prosecutor’s workplace has opened an investigation for “homicide and tried homicide by an organized gang,” Le Figaro reported.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP by way of Getty Photos
In accordance with the police, a complete of 28 folks had been current within the village corridor on the time of the assault.
A number of police vehicles blocked entry to the scene of the tragedy on Sunday morning.
“I am offended. I am outraged,” Goult Mayor Didier Perello instructed reporters.
Perello didn’t rule out potential score-settling.
“I am ruling nothing out. Completely nothing,” he mentioned. “We’re near cities, I will not identify them, the place sadly, we have already seen this type of factor earlier than.”
Dozens of police and a helicopter have been mobilized to trace down the gunmen.
In accordance with the mayor, the village corridor had been booked by the couple in March.
“The village corridor had been rented for a marriage by individuals who do not dwell within the commune,” he added.
Guillaume Molinas, a 50-year-old restaurant proprietor, mentioned he feared that the tragedy would “give the village a foul identify.”
“The final main incident within the village was 125 years in the past,” he mentioned.
As of 2022, Goult had a inhabitants of simply over 1,000 folks. The village is positioned in southeast France, about 50 miles north of Marseille, a port metropolis that has been shaken by drug-related killings lately.
The French authorities has just lately vowed to accentuate the combat in opposition to narcotics and drug-related crime.
