At least 129 people were killed during a weekend prison break attempt at the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest jail, the interior minister confirmed on Tuesday.
Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani reported in a video message that the “provisional human toll is 129 dead, including 24 who were shot after warnings,” and at least 59 others were wounded at Makala prison in the capital, Kinshasa.
The ministry also revealed that several individuals were crushed or suffocated during the chaos, and a number of women were raped.
According to witnesses, gunfire erupted at the prison around 2:00 a.m. on Monday and continued for several hours.
