Zambian police arrest 16 suspects after chemical attacks

Police in Zambia have arrested 16 people suspected of being behind a spate of attacks in which people have been sprayed with poisonous substances and some have died, police said on Thursday. 

President Edgar Lungu last week ordered soldiers to join the police in patrolling the streets after the attacks, which have sparked public outrage. 

The attacks began in December and were initially confined to the mineral-rich copperbelt but have since spread to the capital Lusaka. Police are still trying to pinpoint the exact number of victims. 

Britain and the United States have issued travel alerts to their citizens following the attacks. 

“We have formally arrested 16 persons and among them one of them is actually purported to be funding these operations,” deputy police spokesman Rae Hamoonga stated.

Police in Zambia have arrested 16 people suspected of being behind a spate of attacks in which people have been sprayed with poisonous substances and some have died, police said on Thursday. 

“The government needs to do a lot more. My neighbour’s daughter was choked last night after her room was sprayed with chemicals,” Chongo said. 

Another Lusaka resident, Simon Sense, said several of his neighbours were outraged. “The deployment of soldiers and police is very good. At least these vices have gone down,” Sense said.