Murder of Mehdi Kessaci: Four more suspects in Marseille remanded in custody

Marseille – 07.07.2026: In the investigation into the murder of Mehdi Kessaci, four further suspects have been arrested and remanded in pre-trial detention. According to judicial sources, they were brought before an investigative judge on charges of murder and attempted murder as part of an organized gang and were subsequently committed to custody. The raids took place in early July in the greater Marseille area as part of coordinated measures by police and the judiciary.

The 22-year-old Mehdi Kessaci was shot dead in Marseille on 13 November 2025. The case attracted nationwide attention because his brother, activist Amine Kessaci, has publicly campaigned against drug-related violence for years. Several arrests had already been made in the months after the killing; given possible links to organized drug trafficking, the investigations were centrally coordinated. Specialized judicial units, which regularly take over in cases with suspected gang structures, are responsible.

The new suspects are said to have played different roles in the alleged criminal network. According to consistent reports, investigators are examining logistical support, the procurement of vehicles or equipment, as well as possible direct involvement in the attack. One line of inquiry is also looking at a possible contract motive. Earlier case notes mentioned a large sum of money in connection with the planning of the attack; whether and how this is linked to those now in custody remains the subject of further investigations.

Investigations are focused on the preparation and execution of the attack, possible accomplices, as well as escape and communication routes. Forensic analyses, telecommunications data and video recordings from the vicinity of the scene play a key role. In parallel, financial investigations are underway to reveal any payment flows that could indicate an organized structure. Official sources emphasize that all suspects are presumed innocent.

The debate in Marseille about the consequences of drug-related violence continues. Local politicians, associations and neighborhood initiatives have for months been calling for increased prevention, consistent prosecution and protection programs for vulnerable young people. Security authorities point to additional operations against so-called ‘narcopoints’ as well as to coordinated procedures by specialized judicial units. For the victim’s family, the legal resolution remains central; in several statements they have demanded justice and urged investigators to clarify the case promptly.

With the current detentions, the number of suspects in the case continues to grow. Concrete charges against individual alleged shooters or masterminds have not yet been filed. Investigators are preparing further interrogations and confrontations; whether there will be further arrests in the near future is unclear.