A Tunisian national has been shot dead in what prosecutors suspect is a racially motivated attack, sparking renewed concerns over racism and intolerance in France.
The fatal shooting occurred on Saturday in the southern commune of Draguignan but was confirmed on Monday by local authorities. The victim, believed to be around 35 years old, was reportedly shot by his neighbor. A 25-year-old Turkish man was also injured in the attack, suffering a gunshot wound to the hand and requiring hospitalization.
In a statement, the local prosecutor’s office said initial investigations point to racial hatred as a likely motive, further fueling public anxiety over a rise in racially charged violence.
The incident comes just one month after the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Aboubakar Cisse, a man from Mali, inside a mosque in the southern town of La Grand-Combe — a case that also stirred national outcry over hate crimes.
France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, condemned the attack in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Racism must be severely punished. This shooting is intolerable.” However, critics were quick to point out that Retailleau’s previous comments on migration and Islam may have contributed to the tense social climate fueling such incidents.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and the suspect remains in custody.
