Nine people, including four police officers, were killed in Sunday morning shootings at two separate people’s committee communes in the country’s coffee belt province of Dak Lak, according to a statement on the website of the local police.
(Bloomberg) — Nine people, including four police officers, were killed in Sunday morning shootings at two separate people’s committee communes in the country’s coffee belt province of Dak Lak, according to a statement on the website of the local police.
Two commune officials and three local residents also died and two other police officers were seriously injured in the early-morning shootings, the statement said.
Authorities earlier said the shootings occurred at two police stations.
Police have arrested 26 suspects in connection with the shootings and seized military weapons, including rifles, according to a statement on the public security ministry’s website. Authorities are pursuing other suspects.
Two people held hostage during the ordeal were rescued while another managed to escape, according to the ministry.
The Central Highlands, known for its coffee production, has a history of political unrest among minority groups over land rights.
Gun violence is relatively rare in Vietnam. In 2020, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced two men to death for their role during a deadly protest over land being used for the construction of a military airport.
The five Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum grow about 90% of the country’s coffee crop. Vietnam is the world’s largest producer of robusta beans.
–With assistance from Mai Ngoc Chau.
(Updates with nine killed in the first paragraph and other information in the second and third paragraphs.)
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