Twelve people were killed and at least nine wounded in a late-night mass shooting at an informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa, and police say they are searching for more than 10 suspects who arrived and fled in a minibus.
Police said the attack happened late Tuesday in the Jumpers informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb, east of central Johannesburg.
Officers responded after reports of heavy gunfire and found multiple bodies in the streets and shacks. Eleven victims died at the scene, and a twelfth person died later in the hospital, according to authorities, according to CBS News.
Investigators believe more than 10 heavily armed attackers were dropped off in a white minibus, moved through the neighborhood, and opened fire on residents in several locations before leaving in the same vehicle.
Police said the victims included nine men and three women, all believed to be adults. At least nine other people were taken to nearby hospitals with gunshot wounds, some in serious condition.
No arrests had been made by Wednesday, and police have launched a large-scale manhunt involving provincial detectives, crime intelligence officers, and forensic teams.
Authorities are collecting cartridge casings and other physical evidence at multiple crime scenes and reviewing any available security camera footage. Officers are also taking statements from survivors and residents who witnessed parts of the attack, CNN reported.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear, police said. Some community members told local media they fear the killings may be linked to conflicts involving illegal mining groups operating around Johannesburg's eastern suburbs, but officials have not confirmed any connection.
Authorities said they are examining whether the attackers targeted specific individuals or fired indiscriminately at people in the area.
South Africa has faced a series of mass shootings in recent years, including attacks at taverns and in other townships around Johannesburg and in other provinces.
Police officials said additional patrols and specialized units would be deployed in Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods while the suspects remain at large.
They urged anyone with information about the minibus or the attackers to contact authorities and warned that the gunmen are considered armed and extremely dangerous, as per the Associated Press.
