johannesburg, south africaAP —
Assailants killed 12 people and injured at least nine others in a late-night shooting rampage in Johannesburg, police said Wednesday. This is the latest such attack to rock South African cities.
Police said they believed more than 10 suspects traveled by minibus to an informal settlement in the Johannesburg suburb of Cleveland late Tuesday night and opened fire on people when they arrived there.
South Africa has recently experienced several high-profile mass shootings, including one in December that left more than 20 people dead. One of the incidents involved multiple gunmen.
The shooting may be linked to illegal mining organizations operating in and around Johannesburg. Suburbs of Cleveland have been linked to illegal mining activity.
Police said the attackers “moved through the area, firing at residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.”
According to police, the victims were nine men and three women. Eleven people died at the scene and one other victim died at the hospital.
Police were searching for the attacker, but were unable to make an arrest. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned settlements that usually consist of shacks and similar buildings.
“State and district detectives, assisted by crime intelligence and forensic experts, were mobilized to investigate the incident and track down the suspects,” police spokesperson Atelenda Mate said.
Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said the attackers were “heartless” but refused to link the killings to illegal mining until the investigation was complete.
“We are still investigating, but what we witnessed here is a criminal act. We have deployed all the necessary forces,” he said, adding that crime intelligence officers were also sent to the area.
