Image copyright Reuters Image caption A seven-year-old girl was reportedly among those injured in the attack in Avignon, France

Eight people have been injured in a shooting outside a mosque in southern France, officials have confirmed. Local magistrate Laure Chabaud was quoted by La Provence and Le Dauphine Libere as saying that the mosque did not appear to be the target of the Sunday night shooting. La Provence quoted her as saying police have ruled out a terrorist motive. Police and prosecutors did not respond to requests for comment early Monday. The reports say the perpetrators fled. A seven-year-old girl was among those injured, the paper reported. The shooting comes as France’s government prepares to extend a state of emergency in place since Islamic extremist attacks in 2015, citing continued threats.
Two gunmen open fire near a mosque in Avignon, France, injuring eight people. Two of the victims were hospitalised.