Pretoria, South Africa – A bloody tragedy shook the capital Pretoria on Saturday after unidentified gunmen stormed a local hotel, firing indiscriminately at those present, killing 11 people and injuring 25 others in an initial count.
Police spokeswoman Athlinda Mathie confirmed details of the horrific accident in Soulsville, a town located 18 kilometers west of Pretoria. Mathie stated that ten people died at the scene, while another person later died in hospital from their injuries.
Initial investigations indicate that three gunmen stormed the building and began firing indiscriminately at a group of men gathered in the hotel bar. Adding to the tragedy, three children were confirmed dead among the victims: a three-year-old, a twelve-year-old, and a sixteen-year-old teenager. Fourteen injured individuals were transported to hospitals for treatment.
This latest attack adds to a series of mass shootings that have become increasingly common in South Africa, once again highlighting the security challenges and rampant crime plaguing the country of nearly 63 million people.
