Arabic version: إطلاق نار جماعي في جوهانسبرغ يترك 12 قتيلاً وتسعة مصابين

According to BBC News,

At least 12 people have been killed in a mass shooting in Cleveland, Johannesburg, according to police in South Africa. The attack took place late on Tuesday, and authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved.

Police reported that more than 10 suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station and entered the informal settlement through both entrances. They proceeded to open fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.

Emergency medical services were deployed shortly after police received reports of the shooting at about 23:10 local time. Eight men and three women died at the scene, while an additional man succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. At least nine others were taken to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.

The motive for the attack remains unknown, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. South Africa is known for having one of the highest murder rates in the world, with around 60 people killed daily on average. Shootings in informal settlements are frequent and often linked to gang violence and personal disputes.

This mass shooting follows a similar incident last year, where nine people were killed at a tavern in Johannesburg. The South African Gunowners’ Association cites that there are approximately three million legally held firearms in the country, alongside an estimated equal number of unlicensed weapons.