Mozambique starts inquiry into police 'death brigades'

An inquiry is under way in Mozambique to determine whether “death brigades” existed within the national police that carried out summary executions of prisoners, according to a report by the Attorney General.

One of the “death brigades” is suspected to have slain three prisoners on a field near Costa do Sol beach in Maputo last month, the report, based on residents’ witness accounts, said.

These prisoners were killed “with a shot in the head ... probably fired from a short range, with the intention to kill”, the document, seen by Agence France-Presse, said.

The report contradicted statements by police authorities who last week said the three prisoners were killed while attempting to escape custody.

The Attorney General, Joaquim Madeira, told journalists on Wednesday that “investigations would continue until this matter of probable existence of death brigades and summary executions of citizens by the police was totally clarified”.

Local and international human rights organisations have often accused the police in Mozambique of rights violations, especially torture and summary executions.

The last report of the United States State Department, released in February, also condemned the Mozambican police over the alleged violations.

The Mozambican police have this year been accused by the country’s league of defence of human rights to have been responsible for the death of nearly 10 citizens in unclear circumstances.

The police have in most cases said that victims were criminals who were fleeing arrest.—Sapa-AFP