Published: Less than 2 hours ago
Malagasy authorities are searching for a group of cattle rustlers who on Friday killed at least 32 people by setting fire to their homes.
The country’s military is now in charge of the search and helicopters have been deployed to find the suspects.
“The perpetrators must be found and punished according to law,” says President Andry Rajoelina in a statement on social media, describing the incident as a “massacre.”
The massacre took place in a village in the town of Ankazobe north of the capital Antananarivo. The suspected perpetrators, around twelve cattle thieves, forced the villagers into three buildings which were then set on fire. Over 30 people were killed and three injured, according to the police.
“The army will do everything in its power to arrest the perpetrators who carried out the massacre as soon as possible,” Defense Minister Richard Rakotonirina told local media on Saturday.