Residents in northern Nantes are grappling with rising insecurity and gun violence, marked by seven shootings in two months linked to drug gang conflicts. Long-time resident Lydie expresses her fear for safety, while local families worry about the trauma affecting their children. In response, authorities have deployed police and plan to enhance surveillance with new cameras and recruit additional officers to restore safety and support the community.
Community Struggles with Insecurity in Northern Nantes
In the vibrant yet troubled heart of a northern Nantes neighborhood, residents find themselves united by a shared sense of anger and insecurity. “Just two weeks ago, I walked by the spot where they fired those infamous Kalashnikovs. It was a Saturday during the holidays, and let me tell you, there were kids and people out in the streets,” recalls a concerned local. Another resident adds, “This area has become a hotspot for drug dealing, and unfortunately, we’ve seen an increase in incivilities, culminating in gun violence and Kalashnikov shootings.”
Gun Violence and Its Impact on Families
In a startling turn of events, the neighborhood has witnessed seven shootings in less than two months. While there have been no fatalities, numerous individuals have sustained injuries from gunfire. The root of this violence lies in drug dealers clashing with rival gangs over territorial control. To combat this escalating crisis, a police car has been deployed for constant surveillance in the area around the clock.
Lydie, a long-time resident who has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years, bravely attended a gathering to discuss the situation. For the first time, she felt genuine fear for her safety. “When I heard the Kalashnikov shots, the noise was unbearable. I found myself sitting against the wall, knowing that even closed shutters wouldn’t stop a bullet,” she shared with the 20H teams. That day, she welcomed worried neighbors into her home, including two mothers who expressed their distress about raising children in such an environment. “Children are living through trauma because of this. They don’t feel safe going outside,” they lamented, with one mother declaring, “What I really want is to leave the neighborhood!”
Despite the fear, Lydie refuses to consider leaving. Instead, she has altered her daily routines for safety, stating, “I wouldn’t even cross the lawn to get to the pharmacy anymore, so I found a different one. It’s just not safe here; they claim this territory.”
The territorial conflicts extend beyond this neighborhood, impacting various parts of the city. For instance, in the west, a person was shot in the knee last September, and three months later, two men were shot in the south while another was attacked with a knife, taking refuge in a gym filled with children. “We had a young one alert us that someone was down with a lot of blood,” recalled a coach, who quickly grasped the severity of the situation. “Seeing the extent of the injuries, it was clear that this wasn’t just a minor altercation.”
In the latest round of violence, just a few weeks ago in northern Nantes, three individuals fired an automatic weapon at the entrance of a building, leaving three people injured. During the investigation, authorities discovered that some of those involved in the drug trade were not even from the area. “These individuals are engaged in drug trafficking in Nantes but hail from other cities across the country,” explained prosecutor Renaud Gaudel.
In response to these alarming events, five investigators have been assigned full-time to the area. However, what can be done for the residents who feel powerless? The local government has established two key priorities: recruiting municipal police officers to assist the national police with manageable tasks and installing video surveillance cameras to aid in identifying suspects. Bassem Asseh, the city’s first deputy in charge of security and public tranquility, outlined, “By providing the justice system and police with video footage, we can help them identify individuals involved in these incidents.” Plans are underway to install 70 new cameras and recruit 55 municipal police officers by 2026.