Shooting and brawl in Poitiers: alarming violence

On the evening of October 31, a shootout broke out in the Couronneries district of Poitiers, injuring at least five people, including a 15-year-old teenager with a serious head injury. This tragedy was followed by a brawl involving “several hundred people”, according to the authorities. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau spoke of a “tipping point” in the fight against drug trafficking, underlining the urgency of the situation.

At around 10.45pm, shots were fired by individuals in a vehicle, causing panic in an area already known for its drug-trafficking problems. By the time the police arrived, five people had been shot and wounded. Tensions quickly erupted, with youths seeking revenge on the alleged shooters, leading to scuffles that required the use of tear gas grenades by police.

Preliminary investigations suggest a settling of accounts linked to drug trafficking. The Minister also noted a significant increase in drug-related violence in France, reporting 315 such incidents in 2023, an increase of almost 60% on the previous year.

Political reactions were swift to follow, with the mayor of Poitiers, Léonore Moncond’huy, describing these events as “unacceptable violence” and calling for increased repression. Member of Parliament Sacha Houlié stressed that these incidents are symptomatic of a growing “gangrene” caused by drug trafficking.

Call for calm and increased security in Poitiers

Four more people were shot in a brawl, including at least two 16-year-olds, according to police sources reported by H24 MEDIA. Initially, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had estimated the number of participants in the clash at between “400 and 600 people”, while a police source put the figure at “50 to 60 people”. Tensions quickly degenerated into scuffles, forcing the police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. Calm was finally restored at around 11.30pm.

Jean-Marie Girier, prefect of the Vienne department, appealed for calm in a statement to France Bleu Poitou. “It is unacceptable that some people think they can take justice into their own hands,” he said, reaffirming that ”the police are mobilized, as are the judicial authorities, and it is crucial to allow them to work serenely.”

He also urged families to look after their children, especially minors, to prevent them from roaming the streets at night. To ensure security in the Couronneries district, 80 police officers, with the support of the CRS8, a unit specialized in dealing with urban violence, will be deployed on Friday evening. This reinforced police presence is designed to calm the situation and prevent any further tension in public spaces.