Two teenagers, who were reportedly forced to dig their own graves at gunpoint in a horrifying kidnapping ordeal, have been discharged from the hospital. The incident took place in a remote area near Nantes, France, where the two boys, aged 14 and 16, were abducted and held captive for several hours. Police suspect the incident is related to ongoing turf wars between rival drug gangs.

The victims were taken in a car to a forest, where they were stripped, beaten, and threatened before being coerced to dig their own graves under duress. Fortunately, they managed to escape and seek help at a nearby residence, ending the ordeal about two hours after it began.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, categorizing it as “violence and kidnapping with a weapon” following the events on January 2. The boys, who were no longer hospitalized, were found with injuries including cuts, bruises, and one of them had been stabbed in the thigh.

No arrests have been made in connection to the incident, which is part of a concerning trend of youths being targeted amid escalating drug conflicts in France. In a separate incident last month, eight individuals were apprehended on suspicion of murder after a teenager’s death was live-streamed on social media and his body was discovered burnt in a village near Nîmes.

The deceased 19-year-old had suffered gunshot wounds and evidence pointed towards a deliberate execution. The investigation revealed that the incident was part of a gang conflict in Nîmes that has resulted in a series of violent crimes. Gang-related activities, including trafficking, have raised concerns, leading to preventive measures like city-wide curfews on minors in affected areas.