In Poitiers, France, a massive gang-related shootout on Thursday evening left at least five people injured, including three teenagers. A 15-year-old boy is currently in critical condition after being shot in the head. French media, citing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, reported that between 400 and 600 individuals were involved in the violent incident, though it remains unclear how many of them were actively shooting.

The confrontation reportedly began inside a local restaurant and quickly escalated into a larger street brawl between rival gangs. While the exact details remain uncertain, this violent outbreak underscores the rising tension and drug-related violence in the region. Poitiers, a town in western France, has seen frequent incidents connected to the drug trade, with authorities increasingly concerned about the escalation in gang activity.

According to Retailleau, the situation in France has reached a “tipping point” concerning drug-related violence, sparking significant concern at the national level. Later on Friday, he is expected to visit Rennes, another city impacted by similar violence. Just last weekend, a five-year-old child in Rennes was critically injured during a shootout between drug gangs, illustrating the far-reaching impacts of these conflicts on communities.

Thursday’s shootout in Poitiers was not an isolated incident. Elsewhere in France, in the town of Saint-Péray near Valence, another violent clash erupted at a nightclub, leading to a shooting that left three people in their twenties injured. Among the victims, a 22-year-old suffered a critical head injury and remains hospitalized in grave condition. Police suspect that those involved in the Saint-Péray shooting may have ties to drug trafficking networks.

These violent events reflect a troubling trend in France, where drug-related gang conflicts are increasingly spilling into public spaces, endangering civilians and prompting a nationwide call for more decisive action to curb gang violence and drug trafficking.