Off the wire
• Urgent: UN Security Council kicks off closed meeting on DPRK  • Linocut works by Picasso to meet public in Liverpool  • Feature: Kenyan coffee shops eye bonanza as cold season hits crescendo  • Erdogan says Turkey may vote on negotiations with EU  • Sweden inaugurates first electric road  • Zambia's ruling party says not behind private newspaper closure  • Most Republican voters believe party leaders don't want Trump to be president: survey  • Roundup: UK referendum debate not well presented: business leader  • Interview: China's investment reform to boost global FDI flows: UN official  • Spotlight: Xi's speech bolsters confidence in development of Uzbekistan and beyond  
You are here: 　 Home

Bandits kill 31 bush taxi passengers in SW Madagascar

Xinhua, June 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thirty one passengers onboard a bush taxi were killed by bandits in southwestern Madagascar, authorities said on Wednesday.

The bush taxi, carrying 32, was assaulted by bandits on its way from Toliara to Beroroha, southwestern Madagascar, Tuesday, command of National Gendarmerie Daniel Ramiandrisoa told a press conference.

"Around 20 bandits put a dam on the road of the bush taxi, the driver could manage to escape it, but the bandits shot the rear tire and overthrew the car," Ramiandrisoa said.

According to the command, 10 children are among the victims. Only one survived from the attack, but he is seriously injured.

The bandits robbed a cash around 7 million Ariary (about 2000 U.S. dollar) and other wealth from the victims before absconding, he said.

Some hours before this tragedy, the same bandits also attacked a military vehicle on the same trajectory, Ramiandrisoa added.

General Anthony Rakotoarison, director of Security and Investigation under the National Gendarmerie, said the ministry of National Defense had emergently sent 50 military elements to restore peace in the area. Enditem