3 Police Officers Die As Gunman Goes On Rampage In Tanzania

A gunman  has  killed three police officers and a private security guard on a rampage through a diplomatic quarter of Tanzania’s main city Dar Es Salaam  before being shot dead while holed up in a guardhouse at the French embassy’s gate.

Police said the attacker had first shot two police officers with a pistol at an intersection in the district, which houses a number of diplomatic missions.

He took rifles from the fallen police officers and headed on foot to the french embassy firing randomly and occupying the guardhouse.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan said that the attacker had been neutralised and calm has returned.

Police commissioner of operations and training Liberatus Sabas says, 6 people were injured in addition to the 4 who were killed.

Inspector-General of police Simon Sirro said in an interview that police were trying to identify the attacker whose motive is yet unknown.

Sirro suggested the attack could be related to Tanzania’s role in neighbouring Mozambique, where it sent troops this month to help fight insurgency.

Police official Sabas told reporters it was too early to say whether the gunman was a Tanzanian national or a foreigner.