Gunmen kill 5, injure 3 in Burundi bar attack

Unidentified gunmen Thursday night attacked a bar at Musaga in the south of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, killing five persons and injuring three others, police sources told Xinhua on Friday.

"Four persons wearing long and black jackets armed with two guns stormed a bar at Gitaramuka in Musaga and opened fire in the direction of people who were calmly taking drinks. Five died on the spot and three others were seriously injured," said Burundian Police Deputy-Spokesman Moise Nkurunziza.

According to him the attack happened around 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT).

Nkurunziza indicated that the killed persons included a non-commissioned officer, two women, a three-year-old child and a young man while the injured victims included a non-commissioned officer, a man and a child.

"Before fleeing, the gunmen blasted a grenade near a military post, but no casualties were reported during the grenade explosion,"Nkurunziza added.

Violence is again on the rise in the east African nation and mainly in the capital Bujumbura.

Earlier this week, Brigadier General Kararuza, senior adviser in charge of security at the office of the Burundian first vice-president was killed by unknown gunmen who ambushed him as he was going to work.

Burundi is facing a political turmoil that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 persons are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries.

Source: XINHUA