Tanzania: deadly shooting near the French embassy in Dar es Salaam

Published on : 08/26/2021 – 00:37

Three police officers and a private security agent were killed on Wednesday August 25 in a shootout near the French embassy in the Tanzanian economic capital Dar es Salaam. The attacker, whose motives are currently unknown, was shot dead by the police in front of the French representation building.

“It is too early to conclude that this is terrorism, we are still investigating the motives,” said chief of police operations Liberatus Sabas, adding that six people were also injured. “Residents must remain calm while we investigate this matter,” he added.

The SITE organization, which specializes in monitoring jihadist sites in particular, reported in the evening that a media linked to the Islamic State (IS) group had mentioned an “attack on the French embassy” in Dar es Salaam carried out by a man of Somali nationality. However, no claim was made. Contacted by AFP, the French foreign ministry made no comment.

The exchanges of fire took place at midday on Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, avenue de Dar es Salaam where several embassies and foreign representations are located. Videos released by local media show a man armed with an automatic rifle, wearing a checkered t-shirt and wearing a white kufi (Muslim prayer cap), walking on a sidewalk, including a bus and tuk-tuk . He is then seen being shot while standing in front of the entrance to the French Embassy.

Request for a full investigation

“The man looked like a sheikh with a white hat. He walked past me without greeting me and when I greeted him he did not respond. He was sweating. Shortly after, we heard banging. fire, “said a witness on condition of anonymity.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences for the four deaths and called for a full investigation.

The opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) party also called for careful investigations. “I strongly urge the state, and in particular the security services, to fully investigate what happened today and understand the cause. We need to know if this was an event. isolated or (if there are) greater implications for the security of our nation, ”party leader Zitto Kabwe said on Twitter.

With AFP