Ten family members dead in mass massacre: Family members, including seven women, are slaughtered in an ambush at a home in South Africa
- The family was ambushed by a group of men at a house in the town of Pietermaritzburg
- Ten members of the same family, including seven women, were killed in shootings
Ten members of the same family, including seven women, were killed today in a mass shooting at a home in South Africa, police said.
The family was ambushed by a group of gunmen and shot dead in their home in the town of Pietermaritzburg in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, police said.
Police report that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting, which took place early this morning.
Firearms believed to have been used by the suspects have been seized by officers, who have not yet been able to give a motive for the shooting.
Officers were called to the scene this morning after reports of gunfire and found that the ten family members had been shot.
“When they arrived at the scene, they found that 10 members of one family had been shot and fatally wounded in one of the homes,” police spokesman Brigadier General Jay Naicker said.
Ten members of the same family, including seven women, have been killed in a mass shooting at a home in South Africa, police said. In the photo: the scene of the shooting
A body of one of the victims is seen on a bench next to the family’s home
Police said two suspects (pictured) have been arrested in connection with the shooting, which took place in the early hours of this morning
Police Minister Bheki Cele was due to visit the crime scene on Friday.
Shootings are common in South Africa, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world with about 20,000 deaths per year out of a population of 60 million.
In January, gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday in the southern port city of Gqeberha, killing eight and wounding three.
The birthday celebrant was among those shot in the mass shooting.
He was celebrating his birthday with friends when two armed men entered his garden and started shooting at the guests.
Last year, 16 people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in Johannesburg’s Soweto township, when a group of gunmen, some with guns, opened fire on customers.
According to campaign group Gun Free South Africa, there are about 3 million guns registered in the country, although many more remain unregistered.
Firearms believed to have been used by the suspects have been seized by officers, who are yet to give a motive for the shooting
Firearms believed to have been used by the suspects have been seized by officers, who have not yet been able to give a motive for the shooting. Pictured: the scene
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