Three killed in Burundi grenade attacks at bars

Attacks on two bars in the capital, Bujumbura, kill at least three and leave several injured, according to police.

Residents look on as police and soldiers guard a voting station in Burundi''s capital Bujumbura during the country''s presidential election
Burundi has suffered from low-level violence since 2015, when President Nkurunziza decided to seek a third term [File: Reuters]

Grenade attacks on two bars killed at least three people and wounded 27 others in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, police and hospital sources said.

Police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye told reporters on Friday that one person had died at the scene and 29 others were rushed to hospital after grenades were thrown into two bars in the Buyenzi district on Thursday night.

Hospital sources said two people died of their injuries later. One survivor, who asked not to be named, said the attackers had not attempted to rob the bars or the patrons.

READ MORE: Burundi’s environment minister shot dead in Bujumbura

Burundi has suffered from periodic low-level violence since 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to seek a third term in office.

Opponents said his candidacy violated the constitution and a peace agreement that ended a civil war in 2005. The opposition mostly boycotted the polls, and Nkurunziza won a third term.

A wave of unrest followed. The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it left about 450 people dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee.

Since then, political violence has continued to simmer.

Earlier this month, attackers targeted another bar in the same district, causing two deaths and wounding four.

Source: News Agencies