Firefighters Attacked with Shotgun Near Marseille, France
Listen to the story
A firefighter was injured in a shotgun attack near Marseille, in southern France.
The attack happened during a fire that police believe was deliberate, meaning it was started on purpose.
A suspect has been identified, and reports say this person was already known to the authorities before the attack.
Details about the suspect's reasons for the attack have not been fully explained yet.
The firefighter who was shot suffered injuries but survived the attack.
News of the attack caused anger and concern among firefighters across France.
On Monday at midday, gatherings were planned outside fire stations, called casernes in French, all over the country.
These events were organised to show support for the injured firefighter in Marseille.
Firefighters often face danger while doing their jobs, but it is rare for them to be attacked directly with weapons.
This incident has raised questions about the safety of emergency workers in France.
Many people see firefighters as heroes who help others, so an attack on one of them shocked the public.
Authorities are continuing to investigate exactly what happened and why.
More information is expected to be released as the investigation continues.
The case has drawn national attention, with fire services across France showing solidarity with their colleague.
Vocabulary10 words
- firefighter
- a person whose job is to stop fires and help people
- injured
- hurt, often in an accident or attack
- deliberate
- done on purpose, not by accident
- suspect
- a person police think may have committed a crime
- authorities
- official people or groups with power, like the police
- gatherings
- groups of people meeting together for a reason
- casernes
- the French word for fire stations
- support
- help, encouragement, or care shown to someone
- investigate
- to try to find out facts about something
- solidarity
- when people support each other as a group
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. A shotgun 2. They were already known to the authorities 3. To support the injured firefighter
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A _____ was injured in a shotgun attack near Marseille, in southern France.
The attack happened during a fire that police believe was _____.
A _____ has been identified, and reports say this person was already known to the authorities.
The firefighter who was shot suffered injuries but _____ the attack.
News of the attack caused anger and concern among _____ across France.
On Monday at midday, _____ were planned outside fire stations all over the country.
Fire stations are called _____ in French.
These events were organised to show _____ for the injured firefighter in Marseille.
Authorities are continuing to _____ exactly what happened and why.
The case has drawn national attention, with fire services across France showing _____ with their colleague.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think attacks on emergency workers shock the public so much?
- What could be done to protect firefighters and other emergency workers from violence?
- How important is it for communities to show solidarity after incidents like this?
- Do you think gatherings like the ones planned in France are effective ways to respond to such events?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
