A tragic incident unfolded in the village of Goult, near Avignon, as a bride was fatally shot on her wedding night after masked gunmen opened fire.
One suspected attacker was also killed in an apparent exchange of gunfire, while the groom and a 13-year-old child sustained serious injuries.
A massive manhunt is currently underway involving dozens of police officers and a helicopter, as authorities search for an unknown number of suspects who fled the scene. French media reports suggest the violence may be linked to drug-related score-settling.
Authorities have launched an investigation into murder and attempted murder.
Details of the Attack
The shocking event occurred around 04:30 AM (02:30 GMT) on Sunday. The 27-year-old bride and 25-year-old groom were leaving their wedding party at the village hall when unidentified assailants opened fire, according to AFP news agency. Initial reports suggested one of the attackers might have been run over by the couple’s car, but Avignon prosecutor Florence Galtier later clarified that the suspect was hit “in the exchange.”
The surviving attackers, who arrived by car, fled on foot after the shooting. Police confirm that 28 people were present in the hall at the time of the attack, and one woman sustained light injuries.
Goult Mayor Didier Perello expressed his outrage, noting that the hall had been booked in March “for a wedding by people who don’t live in the commune.” He added, “We’re close to towns, I won’t name them, where unfortunately, we’ve seen this kind of thing before.”
Local restaurant owner Guillaume Molinas, 50, voiced concerns that the deadly attack would tarnish the reputation of the village, which has roughly 1,000 residents. “The last major incident in the village was 125 years ago,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.
