Rwanda police gun down Muslim cleric suspected of terrorism

A Rwandan Muslim cleric suspected of recruiting youth for Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria was on Saturday night shot and killed in Kigali.

In a statement Sunday, police confirmed that Muhammad Mugemangango who had been in detention at Kanombe Police Station in Kigali, on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities, was fatally shot after he attempted to flee.

The deceased had led police officers to his residence in Kimironko, a Kigali city suburb for search operation.

"On the way back, he jumped off the vehicle whereupon he was shot so he doesn't escape but died in the process. The incident took place at around 9:13 pm [local time] at Kimironko-Mushumbamwiza road," the statement said.

Mugemangango was deputy Imam of Kimironko Mosque.

"He was under investigations for mentoring Rwandan youths into Jihad and recruiting them to join Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. Investigation continues to establish further details in this case,"the statement said.

Rwandan police revealed that acting on infomation provided by the public, they had detected formation of terror networks and will do their best to unmask the networks and deal with them in accordance with the law. Endit