At least 38 children dead and others abducted in attack on Uganda school by Isis-linked group
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Some of the children were burnt or hacked to death while many other pupils, mostly girls, have been abducted by the group, officials say
The attackers burnt down a dormitory and looted food from the school’s stores, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.
Some of the children were burnt or hacked to death while many other pupils, mostly girls have been abducted by the group, Major General Dick Olum from the Ugandan army told the media.
The attack took place on Friday night and the death toll was initially put at 25. Officials said later on Saturday that 41 bodies had been recovered, including 38 schoolchildren, one guard and two members of the local community who were shot outside the school.
Authorities were still trying to extinguish the fire by Saturday morning local time, officials said, and they feared more dead bodies would be recovered.
Bodies were taken to Bwera Hospital, officials say. Eight people still remain in critical condition.
They have identified the attackers as being from a militant group called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has sworn allegiance to Isis.
The military was in “hot pursuit” of the attackers to rescue the abducted pupils, a spokesperson said. Officials believe the ADF attackers were headed towards the Virunga National Park, the major said.
The ADF has been responsible for several attacks in Congo in recent years including killing 30 soldiers and three civillians in 2021.
According to the United Nations, there are more than 100 armed groups operating in the DRC.
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