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Marseille Daylight Killing of 20-Year-Old Brother of Activist Prompts Organized-Crime Probe

Prosecutors opened an organized-crime homicide probe, with investigators hunting two motorcycle-borne suspects.

Overview

  • The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the rond-point Claudie-Darcy in the 4th arrondissement, where a passenger from a trail-type motorcycle fired multiple rounds into a parked vehicle.
  • Several 9 mm shell casings were recovered, and the assailants fled toward the 13th arrondissement on the motorcycle.
  • The victim, identified by multiple outlets as the younger brother of anti-narcotraffic activist Amine Kessaci, was 20, had no criminal record, and was preparing to retake the police entrance exam.
  • Marseille’s prosecutor opened an investigation for assassination by an organized group and criminal conspiracy, entrusting the case to the DCOS brigade criminelle.
  • Prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said a warning-style assassination is not excluded at this stage and no link to narcotrafficking has been established, as officials note Kessaci had recently been under police protection following threats.