Demand for probe into shooting of Kenyans

September 12 2007 at 03:57PM

Nairobi, Kenya - A Kenyan human rights group on Wednesday demanded an inquiry into the shooting of 14 Kenyans by the Tanzanian police, who said the Kenyans were planning to rob a bank.

A statement by the Oscar Foundation, which also provides free legal aid, said the group planned to launch a court case in the East Africa Court of Justice to force the Tanzanian police to hold an inquiry after 13 men and one women were killed a week ago.

"Preliminary autopsy results on the 14 victims of this heinous crime shows that all were shot at close range and with a high velocity rifle. Some of the bodies also bore marks that are indicative of torture. We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the victims were subjected to torture before being shot," the group said.

The Tanzanian police told local media that they recovered grenades, assault rifles, and bulletproof vests from the suspects' car in the northern town of Moshi, Tanzania. Neither they nor Kenyan police, who told local papers that many of the victims had criminal records, were immediately available for comment on Wednesday.

Shootings of civilians by police are common in many African countries, where officers may lack training and oversight and there are few mechanisms for civilians to pursue complaints. - Sapa-AP