World

Gunfire outside mosque in southern France

BREAKING NEWS: Eight people including seven-year-old girl are injured after masked gunmen open fire at a mosque

Eight people have been injured in a shooting outside a mosque in the city of Avignon in Southern France, in an incident which has turned out not to be terror related.

It follows a terrorist suspect driving his auto towards a crowd outside a mosque "in revenge" for Islamic State attacks last Thursday.

Early reports indicate that two "hooded" men, armed with a rifle and a handgun, pulled up outside the Arrahma Mosque at around 10.30 pm in a Renault Clio.

At least four people have been injured. They subsequently fled the scene and are believed to now be on the run. According to law and enforcement sources, only 2 out of the 8 injured Muslims were sent to a nearby hospital for further medical evaluation.

The man allegedly said he wanted to attack Muslims for past terrorist actions by Islamist extremists.

"It was a black Renault auto", one witness said, adding: "There were four individuals, only two of them, who were seated in the back, stepped out and started shooting at everyone".

Citing La Provence newspaper on Monday, Xinhua reported that authorities are not considering the incident as a terrorist attack.

They targeted the people as they were leaving the mosque.

The 43-year-old driver hit barriers and pillars outside the mosque with his 4×4 without causing any injuries before crashing into a traffic island.

Two hooded men pulled up in a auto and began firing at worshipers, who were leaving Arrahama. The Paris police commissioner has laid great emphasis on the significance of protecting the rights of minority groups living and ensuring that complete freedom under the light of law has been granted for practicing any religion. France is on high security alert following a series of militant attacks in recent years.

stayontheblack.com

Gunfire outside mosque in southern France