Gunmen open fire near French mosque injuring eight people

Two men have carried out a shooting near a mosque in Avignon leaving eight people injured, the French prosecutor's office has said.

According to witness accounts, at least two armed men got out of a car around 10.30pm on Sunday near the Arrahma mosque and opened fire.

None of the wounded are said to have life-threatening injuries.

The prosecutor ruled out any connection with terrorism.

"From what we know this evening, the mosque was not targeted. The fact that it happened in the street of the religious establishment was unconnected with it," the prosecutor said.