In Marseille, 33 gunshot deaths in 2022, the highest figure for 20 years
BORIS HORVAT / AFP
With 33 people dead in shootings this year in Marseille, 2022 is particularly deadly. (Illustrative photo: Police officers search for evidence at a crime scene after a man was found dead, on August 19, 2013 in Marseille.)
MISCELLANEOUS – “They are dramatic characters”, declared this Monday, December 26 Frédérique Camilleri, prefect of the mouths of the Rhone, guest on France info. Two young men died in shootings occurred in the 14th arrondissement this weekend, bringing to 33 the number of people shot dead in 2022 in the Marseille city, according to the figure communicated by the prefect on the radio.
These two new victims make 2022 the deadliest year for 20 years in Marseille, notes France Blue. The number of deaths for the year 2022 indeed exceeds that of 2016, which was so far the worst year in terms of homicides since the beginning of the century. 31 people had been shot and killed that year.
A thousand weapons seized
“Each death challenges us”, declared the prefect, qualifying however this figure: “for the first time this year, we have reflected on all deaths or attempted homicides linked to drug trafficking”. This numbers “were qualified differently”before 2022, she added.
Frédérique Camilleri also assured that she was fighting against these settling of scores, arguing that more than “1000 weapons were seized in 2022”or, according to her, “72% more weapons seized” compared to other years. Faced with traffic and the drug that kills young people, she also says she is trying to fight this scourge: “39 deal points have been dismantled” and “18,000 fixed tort fines”.
The prefect finally notes a change in the behavior of the people perpetrating these shootings: “before, we targeted a person, now we shoot to intimidate, without worrying about who may be on the deal point or nearby”she remarks.
See also on The Huff Post: