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France: Wild West in Marseilles

September 28, 2012

The drugs trade is flourishing in the northern part of Marseille and gang warfare is raging. Twenty people have already been killed in gang-related violence this year.

https://p.dw.com/p/16H5F

The northern part of Marseille is home to the poorest of the poor. Half of the area's  young people are unemployed, a fact that plays into the hands of arms and drug dealers. For years the projects have been controlled by gangs who are waging a brutal conflict with each other. So far politicians have proved ineffective in restoring order. Police and other officials are giving the area a wide berth. Residents are largely left to cope on their own in the troubled housing projects. Now the mayor is calling for the army to be sent in. 

French and UK in joint live firing exercise. A solider (name not supplied) of the French Army Parachute Company from the French 11th Parachute Brigade taking part in Boars Head, a joint live firing exercise with British soldiers at the Otterburn Ranges in Northumberland. Picture date: Thursday February 16, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire URN:12795139 Schlagworte Politik, Militär, Soldaten, Truppenübung, Übung, Manöver, Uniform, Frankreich, Großbritannien, Soldat, einzel, Waffen, Gewehr
Image: picture-alliance/empics