Lille shooting: 3 injured as gunman opens fire near metro station in northern France
Three people, including a minor, have been injured in the city of Lille after a gunman opened fire near the central Porte d’Arras metro station. Police are not considering the incident to be terror-related, local media reports.
Witnesses heard at least five shots fired in central Lille late on Friday, local outlet La Voix du Nord reported.
The injured reportedly included a 14-year-old teenager, who was shot in the leg. Another person has suffered a neck injury and has been hospitalized.
Lille : fusillade près du métro Porte d'Arras, 3 blessés - Fdesouche https://t.co/XwBUWf39rz
— Ce_line 🇫🇷 (@ce_li_ne_fr) March 24, 2017
#Lille : des coups de feu tirés près du métro porte d’Arras ce vendredi soir, plusieurs blessés https://t.co/GD3ROILUYqpic.twitter.com/tp2oID1XJi
— La Voix du Nord (@lavoixdunord) March 24, 2017
The motive behind the shooting was not immediately clear. The shooter has reportedly escaped the scene. Multiple police and emergency service vehicles have been dispatched and police have cordoned off the area.
Coups de feu ce soir porte d'Arras à LIlle. Trois jeunes ont été légèrement blessés. Le tireur serait en fuite. pic.twitter.com/06VD5gtrGZ
— France Bleu Nord (@fbleunord) March 24, 2017
Police said they do not consider the case to be terror-related, France Bleu Nord reported. Officers found about 10 bullet shells on the scene, the outlet said.
Media reports, citing sources, have claimed that the incident was understood to be related to drug traffickers “settling scores.” No official statement has yet been released, however.
Police in #France have stated that #shooting in #Lille is not #terror related - no further details have been shared
— TSM_Pulse (@TSM_Pulse) March 24, 2017
Update
— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) March 24, 2017
Shooting near Porte d'Arras metro in #Lille in northern #France. 3 injured.It seems clash btw drug deal/gangs so far
📸 pic.twitter.com/C7HosHiLTL
The coverage of the shooting has caused some controversy on social media. While major international news agencies chose to ignore the incident altogether, several UK tabloids picked the story under headlines such as “Terror fears in Lille as 'many wounded' in shooting near metro station in center of French city” (Daily Mirror) and “Terror alert in Lille…” (Daily Mail).
Reckless sensationalism from British tabloids is once again driving fear, rumors and confusion https://t.co/HK5UBiVgAv
— BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) March 24, 2017
Terror, terror, terror! It's almost like they wanted it to be the case #Lillepic.twitter.com/hBhVUGHWOF
— Charles B. Anthony (@CharlesBAnthony) March 24, 2017
#Lille Toujours 3 blessés pour le moment (5 selon les riverains) pic.twitter.com/rR28uu85Xl
— INFO Roubaix (@InfoRoubaix) March 24, 2017
In a wave of backlash on Twitter, some criticized the lack of coverage by mainstream media, while others denounced the “terror” label a number of outlets and social media pages chose to use before the nature of the shooting could be verified.
Nice to see the media covering the terror attack in #lille#france . Once again relying on Twitter for the updates.. pic.twitter.com/12OGw7n2XB
— Scott Jones (@ScottJonesy) March 24, 2017
On Wednesday the French turned the lights off the Eiffel Tower in solidarity with the UK. Today UK TV news don't report #Lille attack.
— Peter Thompson (@TheRedRag) March 24, 2017
#Lille police saying shooting related to gang violence, NOT terror.
— Vive Le Pen! (@lepenarmy) March 24, 2017
But, after London, can you really blame people for thinking the worst?
Hashtag #PrayForLille was also immediately created, causing twitterati to quarrel in comments.
One thing after another. Thoughts with those in France 🇫🇷😔 #PrayForLille
— Megan (@megan_meldrum17) March 24, 2017
#lille "Some foreigners using #PrayForLille despite there being 3 injuries, and it appears to be a settling of scores, common in France"
— Audrey_VDB (@audrey_vdb62) March 24, 2017
From #PrayForLondon to #PrayForLille. Who are we going to pray for next week? Seems like praying is working out well....
— Regressive Leftist (@TheSixSense) March 24, 2017
The attention to the shooting incident was apparently magnified by the terrorist attack in London on Wednesday, in which 52-year-old UK citizen Khalid Masood mowed down several people on Westminster Bridge with a 4x4 vehicle, before crashing it into a fence outside the Houses of Parliament and then stabbing a policeman to death. Four people were killed in the attack, which ended with Masood getting shot dead by the police.
READ MORE: British police release image of Westminster terrorist attacker Khalid Masood
