Burundi Soldier Killed by Explosion of Grenade He Intends to Throw Into a Civilian Crowd

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Burundi Soldier Killed by Explosion of Grenade He Intends to Throw Into a Civilian Crowd

A Burundi soldier was on Tuesday killed when the grenade he's prepareing to hurl it into a crowded gathering exploded in his hands.

This happened in the blast in the northern town of Ngozi, a stronghold district of Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza.

“He removed the pin from one of two grenades, but it exploded in his hands and killed him on the spot as well as the bicycle taxi driver transporting him,” a local government officer, Radjabu Songambere, said.

Another man later died of his wounds in hospital. Four others were wounded from the incident.

“Everything indicates that the soldier wanted to carry out an attack,” Songambere said, adding it was not clear what his motive was.

The Ngozi region, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) north of the capital Bujumbura, has largely escaped over a year of violence since April 2015, when Nkurunziza launched his controversial and succesful third term bid – sparking street protests, a failed coup and a nascent rebellion.

According to the United Nations, over 500 people have died as a result of violence in Burundi and over 270,000 have fled the small central African country.