Two people have been killed and six others injured in a shooting in the coastal city of Nice in southern France, in what prosecutors say is directly linked to drug trafficking activity.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the attack occurred when a man on an electric bicycle stopped outside a grocery store and opened fire with a handgun near a neighborhood known for drug-related crime. Investigators recovered 17 spent bullet casings at the scene.
The gunman initially fled on his e-bike before escaping in a nearby parked car, authorities said.
Officials confirmed the shooting took place in the Les Moulins district, an area long associated with organized crime and recurring violence, and widely regarded as one of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods.
Local authorities said the attack is being treated as a drug-trafficking-related incident. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into premeditated murder committed as part of an organized criminal gang.
Nice mayor Éric Ciotti described the situation as “war” against drug trafficking, calling for increased state resources to address rising violence in the Les Moulins area. He also criticized long-standing shortages in policing capacity in the city.
Of the six injured victims, three are reported to be in a serious condition, while three others are suffering from shock, according to officials.
Investigators also revealed that three of the injured individuals have prior criminal records linked to drug trafficking, while the two people killed had no known criminal history.
A full investigation is ongoing as French authorities continue efforts to tackle escalating drug-related violence in urban hotspots across the country.
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