Teen's Brutal Murder Highlights Marseille Gang Violence

A 15-year-old boy was brutally murdered in Marseille, France, stabbed 50 times and burned alive in a shocking incident linked to ongoing drug-related violence. Prosecutor Nicolas Bessone described this as an act of 'unprecedented savagery' amidst a turf war for drug market control involving gangs like DZ Mafia. The teenager was reportedly hired by a 23-year-old prisoner to intimidate a rival gang, but was killed by members of that gang. Following this, the same prisoner recruited a 14-year-old to carry out a revenge attack, which led to the murder of a taxi driver. Marseille, plagued by economic struggles, has become a hotspot for gang violence with an alarming involvement of youth. The city has seen a decrease in drug-related killings in 2024 compared to the previous year, but the violence continues to pose significant public safety challenges.