Ivory Coast’s main rebel faction executed at least 52 paramilitary police and eight of their sons in the rebel stronghold of Bouake, human rights group Amnesty International said Thursday. In a report on atrocities in the war-riven West African country, Amnesty quoted several survivors of what it said was the planned killing of scores of detainees and sons aged 18 to 24. After an insurrection on September 19, rebels seized Bouake, the country’s second largest city. The city’s police force took refuge in their barracks after the insurrection and were left in relative peace until October 6, when loyalist forces attacked and the police were accused of harboring pro-government spies. About 60 police and 50 of their sons were placed under arrest. Witnesses said on the night of their arrest, rebels went to the detainees massed in Bouake’s military prison three times and randomly opened fire, killing and wounding dozens of people. “I was hiding in a cell on the left. … One of the rebels came close to us and glanced into our cell, saying: ‘Hell, there are still a lot of them here!’ He sprayed the room with bullets, then loaded another magazine and fired randomly. When he left, I smeared myself in blood and hid under a body,” said a survivor. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.