Mozambique: Police detain 16 for alleged vandalism in Maputo street protests

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Mozambique: Police detain 16 for alleged vandalism in Maputo street protests

5:56 CAT | 15 Jul 2022

Screen grab: Miramar

Mozambican police detained 16 people for allegedly engaging in acts of vandalism on Thursday in Maputo, a corporation source announced on Friday.

“Of those detained, none were injured. They were detained because they were throwing stones and burning tyres on the public highway,” said Carminia Leite, spokeswoman for the police (PRM) in Maputo province.

Fears of unrest in the streets left the Mozambican capital half-open and accesses to the centre of Maputo under heavy police surveillance following the circulation of messages calling for a protest against the rising cost of living.

The call in anonymous messages on social networks led to the main streets having little activity and, from early morning, they began to be covered by armoured vehicles of the rapid intervention unit (anti-riot force) and other police forces.

According to the PRM spokeswoman, four minors were also taken into custody at a police station in the liberdade neighbourhood, on the outskirts of Maputo, for having been involved in the attempted demonstration.

“The police made the minors aware” of the consequences of their actions and “they were subsequently released”, said Carminia.

The police said that they remained “alert and on standby” in several parts of Maputo in order to “ensure the free movement of people and goods” in the face of threats.