South Africa mass shootings: 27 killed in two separate incidents at bar, store; gunman at large
The two attacks happened just days after another mass shooting at a house party near Durban, where 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed.
PTC News Desk: At least 27 people were killed in two separate mass shootings near South Africa’s two largest cities, police said on Sunday.
In the first incident, 17 people were killed on Saturday night when armed men reportedly opened fire at a bar in Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg. Police said the attackers were carrying AK-47 rifles and pistols.
In a separate incident, 10 people were killed when gunmen opened fire at a store in Lwandle, near Cape Town, at around 1 am on Sunday.
The two attacks happened just days after another mass shooting at a house party near Durban, where 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed.
Police said no arrests had been made in the latest two shootings. Preliminary information suggests that several gunmen may have been involved in both incidents, and authorities were searching for the suspects.
The shootings come as South Africa continues to face widespread gun violence involving both legal and illegal firearms. Police and authorities often link such violence to gang conflicts and disputes between informal businesses.
South Africa, with a population of around 62 million, records about 60 murders every day, placing it among the countries with the highest murder rates in the world.