Hunt for gunman after Corsican exile is shot dead at mother's funeral

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete January 13, 2026 at 01:27 PM

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Former Corsican separatist leader Alain Orsoni, 71, was shot and killed at his mother's funeral in the village of Vero, Corsica, on Monday. Orsoni, who had been living in exile in Nicaragua, was allegedly struck by a single long-range shot as the ceremony concluded. French organized crime prosecutors are investigating the murder, with similarities noted to recent gangland killings linked to Orsoni's son, Guy, who is currently imprisoned for attempted murder. No motive has been established, but Orsoni was a prominent figure in Corsican society with a history of involvement in nationalist movements and criminal activity. The investigation is being handled by a national anti-organized crime prosecutor alongside a specialized regional crime office.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Nicaragua 30% Alain Bauer 30% Marseille 30% Vero 40% Movement for Self-Determination (MPA) 40% Roger-Dominique Polge 50% Nicolas Septe 50% Guy Orsoni ×360% Corsica ×580% Alain Orsoni ×790%

Keywords

corsica 100% murder 90% organised crime 80% alain orsoni 80% separatist leader 70% funeral 70% gunman 60% gangland killings 50% exile 40% criminal clans 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

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Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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corsica murder organised crime alain orsoni separatist leader funeral gunman gangland killings exile criminal clans

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