Tanzanian police kill 4 assailants in Coast region

Source: Xinhua| 2017-07-01 03:51:35|Editor: huaxia
Video PlayerClose

DAR ES SALAAM, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian police said on Friday they have killed four of the assailants behind a spate of killings in the east African nation's Coast region.

Liberatus Sabas, the chief of special police operations, said the four assailants were killed on Thursday night during a four-hour fire exchange.

About 40 people, including local leaders and police officers, have been killed by assailants in Kibiti, Mkuranga and Rufiji Districts in Coast region since the killings started in earnest two years ago, sending shockwaves among residents in the area.

Sabas said police on patrol ambushed about six of the assailants at about 9 p.m. who were hiding in a bush.

"The police officers also seized two sub-machine guns, two magazines and 17 rounds of ammunition," said the police chief.

Sabas appealed to other assailants to stop the killings and surrender to police, adding that every stone will not be left unturned in hunting them down.

The latest killings occurred this week when two local leaders were shot dead by the assailants whose motive of the killings were yet to be known.

Last week, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said ongoing insecurity in the east African nation's Coast region could erode investors' confidence and stall the industrialization drive. Enditem

KEY WORDS:
YOU MAY LIKE
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001364080021