Africa

Africa

Grenade explosions injure 6 policemen, 1 child in Burundi capital

30 March 2016 00:27 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Unidentified persons Tuesday blasted two grenades near a police van at Gasenyi in the north of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, injuring six policemen and one child, police sources have said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Two grenades were blasted by unidentified people near a police van around 12:00 (10:00 GMT) at Gasenyi neighborhood near a marketplace. Six policemen and one child were injured," said Burundian Police Deputy-Spokesman Moise Nkurunziza.

He added that the people who blasted the grenades ran away after the blast.

"We are still looking for those criminals," said Nkurunziza.

On Monday, a soldier died at Muzinda military barrack in Bubanza province when a grenade that he had exploded in his hands.

Some reports say that he wanted to kill his colleagues, but his chief said that he committed "suicide" because he had family-related problems.

On Friday evening last week, four soldiers including a captain injured in a grenade explosion at Musaga in the south of the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

Burundi is facing a political turmoil that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 persons are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries.