A 27-year-old bride has been killed and several others injured after gunmen attacked a wedding party in a village in southeastern France. One of the assailants also died during the assault, according to prosecutors.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the small village of Goult, leaving the local community in shock. Three other people, including a child, were injured.
Sources close to the investigation suggest that the violence may be linked to a drug-related dispute.
The attack took place at around 4:30 am local time as the newlyweds were leaving their wedding reception. They were reportedly confronted by masked individuals who opened fire.
The prosecutor for Avignon, Florence Galtier, confirmed the deaths of the bride and one of the attackers, stating that the assailant was killed “in return.” Initial reports suggested the attacker was run over by the couple’s car.
The 25-year-old groom and a 13-year-old who was in the couple’s vehicle were among those seriously injured.
According to the prosecutor, the attackers arrived in a car and were carrying multiple weapons. They fled the scene on foot after the attack.
Police said that 28 people were present at the village hall where the wedding party was held. An investigation into murder and attempted murder by an organised gang has been launched.
The mayor of Goult, Didier Perello, expressed his anger and outrage at the incident, not ruling out the possibility of a drug-related motive. He noted that the village was located near towns where similar incidents had unfortunately occurred before.
Dozens of police officers and a helicopter have been deployed to track down the gunmen. The village hall had reportedly been booked by the couple in March, and they were not residents of the local area.
Residents expressed fears that the tragedy would give the village a “bad name.”
The French government has recently pledged to intensify its efforts to combat narcotics and drug-related crime across the country.
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