Two Men Charged in France for Attempted Murder with AK‑47 Linked to Drug Trafficking

Two suspects, aged 18 and 24, were formally charged on Friday with attempted murder after a shooting in western Toulouse injured two minors. The attack involved an AK‑47 assault rifle and occurred in a neighbourhood identified by prosecutors as a hub for drug trafficking. One victim, a 16‑year‑old, was wounded in the abdomen and lumbar region and has since left the hospital; the other minor, whose age was not disclosed, suffered a serious thigh injury and remained in critical condition.

The men were apprehended during the night of Monday‑Tuesday following a high‑speed chase with the anti‑criminality brigade (BAC). Police recovered the stolen vehicle they were using, the AK‑47, a handgun and two ballistic vests. One suspect, a native of Toulouse, had no prior record, while the older individual, residing in the Landes department, said he had been recruited via Instagram. They face charges of attempted murder in an organized gang, participation in a criminal association, illegal possession of weapons, vehicle theft and aggravated refusal to obey. Both are now in detention.