Bandits linked to Mwanza, Tanga killings shot in Dar

JIMMY LWANGILI

The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Commander, Mr Simon Sirro.

POLICE in Dar es Salaam have killed two people suspected to be behind the recent machete attacks in a Mwanza mosque and a wave of killings in Tanga in which 11 people were killed.

The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Commander, Mr Simon Sirro, mentioned the dead suspects as Salum Said Mhango (30), who was linked to the Mwanza mosque bloodbath.

The second suspect killed is Mohamed Abdallah alias Abou Seif, who was alleged to be behind the recent killings in Tanga. Mr Sirro told reporters in the city yesterday that Mhango died on the way as he was being rushed to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).

Police officers sprayed the bandit with bullets as he was trying to escape through a window, according to the zonal police chief.

“Law enforcers had temporarily put the suspect’s house under siege; he did all he could to escape but in vain as our officers were ready to act,” he said. Mr Sirro added that the suspect threw a hand grenade in the direction of the police officers, but it did not explode.

He affirmed that police officers swiftly hit back, shooting him on his leg as he defied the order to surrender.

The police boss noted that the man behind the Tanga machete attack, Mohamed Abdallah, exchanged fire with police officers in Temeke before he was ultimately overpowered. The slain criminal was found in possession of a pistol, 19 rounds of ammunitions and a hand bomb. “The suspect was one of the most wanted criminals.

Preliminary investigations have established that he has been behind a number of crimes, including operating a gang that recently caused insecurity in Tanga Region,” he said. He added that investigations are underway to get to the root of the entire network involved in several crimes in the country.

Meanwhile, two people thought to be Ugandans, Juma Said (54) and Ally Sharif (26), have been arrested for allegedly being found in possession of 660 pieces of ivory tusks. The suspects were arrested over the weekend at Mbezi Msakuzi area in Kinondoni District.

They were also found in possession of a device used for cutting ivory tusks. According to Mr Sirro, the suspects will be arraigned as soon as investigations are over