Three people were killed Friday by a double grenade attack by unknown assailants in the centre of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, the deputy police chief said. "Two grenades exploded in the city centre... they killed three people and injured several others, probably more than a dozen," said General Godefroid Bizimana. The bodies of the victims, apparently fruit sellers, were seen lying in pools of blood on the pavement, an AFP journalist said.
The grenade attack is the latest in almost a month of violence in the central African nation, including almost daily street protests in which more than 20 people have died, triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in power. "Those who did this had the intention to kill, because the grenades were thrown among women selling fruits, in a big crowd," Bizimana said, adding that "unfortunately we did not arrest the perpetrators of this attack." The crisis, which began in late April after the ruling party nominated Nkurunziza to stand again in the June 26 presidential election, deepened last week when a top general staged a failed coup attempt.