Gunmen attacked a hostel in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 12 people, including a three-year-old child, at a location reportedly selling alcohol without a license.
The attack is reportedly the latest in a string of mass shootings that have shocked the crime‑weary country of 63 million people, which suffers one of the highest murder rates in the world.
“I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot,” police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe said.
Ten had died at the scene in Saulsville township, 18 kilometres (11 miles) west of Pretoria, while two died in hospital, she said. The twelfth victim succumbed to injuries on Saturday afternoon.
Three gunmen entered what Mathe described as an “illegal shebeen” inside the hostel at around 4:30 am (0230 GMT) and indiscriminately fired at a group of men who were drinking. “Shebeen” is a word used to describe an informal bar or tavern.
One 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old female were also killed in the attack.
“Quite an unfortunate incident. Police were only alerted to this incident at around 6 o’clock,” said Mathe.
Police said the motive was unknown and no arrests had been made, with a manhunt under way for the unidentified suspects.
“We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises,” Mathe said, adding that they are where most mass shootings occur.
“Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire,” she told public broadcaster SABC.
Source: AFP
