One person was killed and six others were injured overnight in a rough northern Paris suburb in a shooting that was most likely linked to drug trafficking, authorities and the mayor said Saturday.
According to authorities, the attack occurred at 11:45 p.m. (2145 GMT) Friday in a parking lot outside a cultural center in Sevran, which is located between central Paris and the city’s principal airport, Charles de Gaulle.
When police arrived on the site, they saw four injured victims scattered across the ground. According to a police source, one died shortly after, and the three others were rushed to hospitals in serious condition.
Three additional persons were transported to the hospital after being hurt by bullets, according to the source, who said that two males arrived in the parking lot in a car, one of whom got out and began fire.
The attackers then fled.
Sevran mayor Stephane Blanchet told AFP “it was clearly a settling of scores linked to drug trafficking.”
“There is a need to establish order and eradicate trafficking,” he said. “Those idiots fired live bullets and did not heed appeals for calm”.
Police have opened an investigation into intentional homicide by an organised gang, they said. No arrests had been by Saturday morning.