JOHANNESBURG: Police said on Monday that gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday over the weekend in a South African township, killing eight and wounding three others. The mass shooting that occurred in the southern port city of Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, included the birthday celebrant among the victims. According to a police statement, "the owner of the residence was celebrating his birthday on Sunday evening when two unknown shooters entered the yard and began firing at the visitors." According to police, the gunmen "randomly shot at guests," resulting in the deaths of eight people and the continued struggles of three others in a hospital. One of the deceased is the homeowner. The attack's motivation is still unknown. The killings were described as "a blatant disregard for human life" by Eastern Cape provincial police chief Nomthetheleli Mene. The attack has been the subject of an investigation, and police have stated that a manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway. In South Africa, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world and is fueled by gang violence and alcohol, shootings are common. Nearly two dozen people were killed in a series of shootings that occurred in Johannesburg's working-class suburbs and Pietermaritzburg's eastern city last year in South Africa. Later on Monday morning, the Police Minister Bheki Cele, the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, and experts in crime were scheduled to visit the scene of the attack.
JOHANNESBURG: Police said on Monday that gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday over the weekend in a South African township, killing eight and wounding three others.
The mass shooting that occurred in the southern port city of Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, included the birthday celebrant among the victims.
According to a police statement, “the owner of the residence was celebrating his birthday on Sunday evening when two unknown shooters entered the yard and began firing at the visitors.”
According to police, the gunmen “randomly shot at guests,” resulting in the deaths of eight people and the continued struggles of three others in a hospital. One of the deceased is the homeowner.
The attack’s motivation is still unknown.
The killings were described as “a blatant disregard for human life” by Eastern Cape provincial police chief Nomthetheleli Mene.
The attack has been the subject of an investigation, and police have stated that a manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.
In South Africa, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world and is fueled by gang violence and alcohol, shootings are common.
Nearly two dozen people were killed in a series of shootings that occurred in Johannesburg’s working-class suburbs and Pietermaritzburg’s eastern city last year in South Africa.
Later on Monday morning, the Police Minister Bheki Cele, the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, and experts in crime were scheduled to visit the scene of the attack.
