Africa

Eight soldiers and three civilians shot dead in Cape Verde

Spanish citizens among those killed in deadly incident on Atlantic archipelago

Cape Verdian soldiers arrive at the Monte Txota military barracks, where the bodies of eight soldiers and three civilians were discovered, according to reports. Photograph: Dulceneia Ramos/EPA
Cape Verdian soldiers arrive at the Monte Txota military barracks, where the bodies of eight soldiers and three civilians were discovered, according to reports. Photograph: Dulceneia Ramos/EPA
Tue Apr 26 2016 - 21:30

Eleven people were shot dead in Cape Verde on Wednesday, including eight soldiers, a local civilian and two Spanish citizens, state TV and police sources said.

There were no immediate details of the killings but authorities were due to hold a press conference on Wednesday.

Cape Verde's battle against gangs smuggling Latin American cocaine to Europe has led to a series of reprisal shootings, though it was not known whether the killings were drug-related.

The country has worked with Western law enforcement agencies in its fight, including the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

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Cocaine seizure

Authorities seized 280kg of cocaine earlier this month in a bust in the Atlantic from a Brazil-registered fishing vessel as it prepared to transfer the drugs to a US-flagged yacht.

Cape Verde is an Atlantic archipelago of 500,000 people.

Reuters