French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Tuesday announced plans to boost police numbers in Marseille, during a crisis mission triggered by another gangland killing linked to the city‘s drug trade, reports Europe Online Magazine.
Ayrault was accompanied to the port city by his interior, justice, social affairs and housing ministers.
The visit came a day after a 25-year-old man was shot dead in the picturesque tourist area of l‘Estaque by two attackers, who raked his car with bullets.
His death brings to 13 the number of people killed so far this year in tit-for-tat attacks between rival gangs in the Marseille area. Last year, a particularly murderous year, saw 24 people killed in gang violence.
Most of the victims are young men linked to the drugs trade, who are targeted in drive-by shootings or high-speed chases by Kalashnikov-toting gunmen. In at least two cases the victims‘ bodies were set alight.
