Hooded gunmen 'shoot at police'
Marseille estate in lockdown after men ‘fire kalashnikovs into the air’ hours before Prime Minister was due to visit
HOODED gunmen in Marseille have reportedly shot at police hours before Prime Minister Manuel Valls was due to visit the city.
At least one man, armed with an automatic weapon, has been arrested following a stand-off with police, according to reports.
The incident has not changed Mr Valls’ plans.
Witnesses in the city’s Castellane estate reported that men carrying Kalashnikovs had fired into the air at about 10am today.
The gunmen opened fire as Pierre-Marie Bourniquel, the departmental director of public security, was visiting the area to inspect safety preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit, Le Figaro reported.
The newspaper said that the vehicle was not hit but bullet holes were found in an embankment two or three metres away.
Some 7,000 residents in the area were ordered not to go outside, while elite security forces arrived at the scene. A creche has been evacuated and a helicopter is flying over the estate.
About 40 police officers have taken up positions on a roundabout, witnesses said.
Local politician Samia Ghali tweeted that Castellane is in a "state of siege", adding the situation was her worst nightmare".
Cité la Castellane en état de siège. Mon Cauchemar absolu: armes de guerre, messages de détresse. On ne peut plus tourner la tête #Marseille— Samia GHALI (@samiaghali2) February 9, 2015
Initial reports suggest that the gunfire was linked to a turf war between rival drug gangs and not related to terrorism. There have been no reports of any casualties so far.
BREAKING: Shots fired in Marseille France, special forces on the scene, hours beforz PM valls visits Marseille. pic.twitter.com/LCR8oqa8xG— Breaking News (@NewsOnTheMin) February 9, 2015
Mr Valls - accompanied by interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve and education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem - was due to visit the city to welcome the "excellent" results of a crime crackdown, and to outline a government-backed regeneration scheme to further cut crime and anti-social behaviour.
Photo: NewsOnTheMin / Twitter
