Spike in Kalashnikov Gunfire in Nantes Neighborhoods Signals Rise in Drug Trafficking Violence

Since early November 2025, Nantes has witnessed a disturbing increase in gunfire attacks linked to disputes among drug traffickers, affecting neighborhoods previously considered safe. The area around the Beaujoire stadium has been particularly impacted, with multiple violent episodes reported including a November 14 attack where at least 24 bullets were fired from a Kalashnikov assault rifle into a building on Boulevard des Batignolles. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident that targeted the building’s entrance and two first-floor apartments.

The violence in Nantes did not stop there. On November 17, a house on Colette-Besson Street in the Doulon neighborhood was struck by roughly ten gunshots early in the morning, again with no injuries. Police investigations found eight bullet impacts and identified the caliber as 7.62, typical of Kalashnikov rifles and military-grade firearms. Authorities have opened an inquiry for attempted murder by an organized group and are actively searching for two suspects reportedly seen fleeing the scene on a scooter.

Local law enforcement has heightened vigilance in response to this surge, acknowledging that such severe violence is unprecedented for districts like Beaujoire and Doulon — areas not previously known for serious crime. The motives appear tied to intimidation and settling scores within the drug trafficking underworld, underscored by an earlier arrest of two 15-year-olds on November 11 who face charges relating to an attempted murder near a drug dealing point.

According to a police source, "The level of violence has reached a new threshold in districts that were once peaceful," reflecting growing concerns over the influence of organized crime networks in Nantes. These episodes form part of a broader pattern of escalating gun violence in multiple neighborhoods, including Pirmil, signaling troubling shifts in local security dynamics.

With investigations ongoing and a community shaken by these attacks, Nantes authorities are under pressure to quell this wave of drug-related violence and restore safety to its neighborhoods.