19 Killed in Attacks on Military Base and Prisons in Sierra Leone Capital
The army in Sierra Leone says that 19 people were killed during the attack on a military barracks and prisons in the capital, Freetown, on Sunday.
Army spokesman, Colonel Issa Bangura said the dead included 13 soldiers, three assailants, as well as a police officer, a civilian, and a private security guard.
He added that a further eight people were wounded.
Three people have so far been arrested for the attack.
Meanwhile, police in Sierra Leone are continuing the manhunt for people involved in the attacks.
Gunmen broke into an Armory and several prisons in Freetown on Sunday, enabling the escape of almost 2,000 inmates.
The authorities are offering a reward of $2,000 for anyone with information on a perpetrator still at large, as well as $1,000 for any leads on escaped prisoners.
A night-time curfew remains in place throughout Sierra Leone.
Read Also:
A former President, Ernest Koroma, also came close to Sunday’s violence.
A military source on Sunday told the BBC that one of Mr Koroma’s guards had been detained – hours later the former leader announced that a guard of his had been killed and another abducted.
In a statement, Mr. Koroma said he “strongly condemned” the violence, in which Corporal Eddie Conteh was reportedly shot at point-blank range while his colleague, Warrant Officer John Swarray was whisked away to an unknown location.
The information minister echoed President Bio in insisting order has been restored in the capital. The sound of gunshots had drastically decreased overnight and the atmosphere was calmer, witnesses said.
However, Mr Bah said a “manhunt” for gunmen and the escaped prisoners is ongoing.
In a televised address on Sunday evening, the president described the events as a “breach of security” and an attack on democracy.
A new nine-hour night-time curfew will begin at 21:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Monday, the information ministry says.
As daily life began to resume in Freetown, one passer-by told the BBC: Yesterday was like hell on earth for some of us that reside beside the central prison or close to the state house.
We are happy that from the government’s side, they have put everything under control for now.
