Police kill three terror suspects in western Rwanda

Rwandan Police killed three suspected terrorists in a shootout in Rusizi district, western Rwanda, Friday, in an operation targeting youth in radicalization activities.

The Friday operation targeting religious extremism follows the shooting of another suspected terrorist in Kigali's suburb of Nyarutarama on Wednesday night who police said was suspected of being part of a large group engaged in acts of radicalism.

Police said their preliminary investigation indicate that the victims were in a radicalization campaign aimed at recruiting jihadists.

"Radicalization materials, including audio CDs and text books were seized from the house," Police said in a statement.

"During the operation to arrest the suspects, they turned violent, issued threats and attempted to flee when three of them were shot," the statement said.

The deceased were among a group of six suspects who turned violent after resisting arrest. Three other suspects were arrested with further investigations upon them , it said.

Those killed were identified as Eric Mbarushimana, Hassan Nkwaya and Mussa Bugingo, who succumbed to their injuries in hospital. They hailed from Kamonyi and Kicukiro districts.

Police said the group of six individuals had spent about two weeks in an isolated house allegedly conducting radicalization activities.

Police assured the public that safety and security will continue to prevail and that the situation was back to normal. Endit