Islamic State claims deadly attack on northern Mozambique gas town – Reuters

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Islamic State claims deadly attack on northern Mozambique gas town – Reuters

4:24 CAT | 29 Mar 2021

FILE - Aerial view of the Palma region. [File photo: Voa Portugues]

Islamic State on Monday formally claimed an attack on the northern Mozambique gas town of Palma, in which dozens of people, including foreign workers, were killed.

The group made the claim on its Amaq news agency, saying its fighters had taken control of the town after days of clashes with security forces, and said it had killed at least 55 people including soldiers, destroyed buildings and seized vehicles.

The government confirmed on Sunday that dozens of people had been killed in the attack on Palma, adjacent to gas developments worth $60 billion, which began on Wednesday.

They included at least one South African citizen. Britain’s Times newspaper reported that a British national had died.

The SITE Intelligence Group said Islamic State had described the foreign nationals as contractors and also provided a photograph taken in Palma.

Palma is located in the province of Cabo Delgado, home since 2017 to a simmering Islamist insurgency linked to Islamic State.

ISIS have just claimed last weeks bloody attack on Palma, a port in northern Mozambique.

(have to stress that really sketchy ties between ISIS and insurgents and, guess what, local drivers way more important than any international inputs) https://t.co/QYsbwW2ws5

— Jason Burke (@burke_jason) March 29, 2021

#ISIS has officially claimed the capture of #Palma in #Mozambique — having clearly deployed a sizable fighting force.

Local security forces were overwhelmed & foreign PMCs powerless to prevent the city being overrun.

Reports of many expats killed in a last gasp escape attempt. pic.twitter.com/JRttff7BQY

— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) March 29, 2021