Mozambican police detain 24 suspected terrorists

MAPUTO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Police of Mozambique said here Tuesday that they had arrested 24 suspected terrorists who were on their way to a district in the northern Cabo Delgado province.

The detainees are all Mozambicans and preliminary investigations indicated that the group was going to Mocimboa da Praia to reinforce the "insurgents," according to police spokesman Inacio Dina.

"Probably this group was going to Mocimboa da Praia to reinforce the insurgents that are creating panic since October of last year," said Dina.

The detainees travelled in an inter-provincial passenger bus that came from Nampula province and they claimed they were going to fish in Pemba, provincial capital of Cabo Delgado.

"This arrest is the result of investigations that police have been doing since radical Islamists showed up last year," said the spokesman.

In October 2017, a group of about 30 armed fundamentalists launched attacks against three police stations in Mocimboa da Praia, leading to the death of two policemen and a community leader.

After the authorities regained full control of the town, there are still sporadic ambushes against police vehicles on roads.

Inacio Dina said that the police were doing their best to bring peace and quiet back to that region.

"We are about to reopen the school period, and we want people who have abandoned their fields to return, as we are redoubling efforts to maintain peace in Mocimboa da Praia," said Dina.

In December, terrorists launched another attack that resulted in the death of a police officer and serious injury of five others. Enditem