French police operation underway in Marseille following shooting
French police forces have launched an operation in the southern port city of Marseille following a shooting incident.
On Monday, the residents of La Castellane estate in Marseille said they heard "Kalashnikov shots" which were fired "in the air."
The reports added that the French special forces headed into the estate, which is notorious for being a drug trafficking zone.
Caroline Pozmentier, deputy mayor of the city, said the shootings were most probably carried out by drug trafficking cartels, adding, “This battle against drug trafficking is a long-term battle.”
This is while French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is scheduled to visit Marseille later in the day.
Marseille, the second largest city in France, has been beset by widespread violence of rival gangs, which are fighting each other for bringing the city’s drug trade under control.
In January, a 25-year-old was gunned down in clashes between drug cartels in Marseille.
Last month, France experienced a terrorist attack in which gunmen attacked the office of the weekly magazine, Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people and wounding 11 others.
The incident was followed by a series of sieges and shootings across the country, resulting in the killing of more people.
FNR/HMV/SS
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