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Tanzania says 5 dead in gun battle near French Embassy

Tanzania’s president says five people are dead, including three police officers, after a gun battle with an armed man near the French Embassy in Dar es Salaam

Via AP news wire
Wednesday 25 August 2021 20:41 BST
Tanzania Deadly Gunfight
Tanzania Deadly Gunfight

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Tanzania's president on Wednesday said five people are dead, including three police officers, after a gun battle with an armed man near the French Embassy in Dar es Salaam.

It was not immediately clear whether the shootout in the heavily guarded diplomatic area was a terror attack. Inspector general of police Simon Sirro told reporters the armed man was a foreigner and police believe he was from Somalia Sirro also warned the attack could be linked to the jihadist insurgency in neighboring Mozambique where a growing number of African nations are jointly pursuing the fighters.

The confrontation occurred shortly after President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed security officials in another part of the city, Tanzania’s commercial hub. The president later said three police officers, a member of the auxiliary police and the armed man were killed, and she ordered an investigation.

The U.S. Embassy in a security alert warned citizens to avoid the area. The shootout occurred not far from the scene of the deadly bombing in 1998 at the U.S. Embassy.

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