Musanze terror suspects handed to prosecution

FIFTEEN PEOPLE suspected to be behind a spate of criminal activities including grenade attacks in Musanze District have been handed to prosecution for further investigations. Supt Emmanuel Hitayezu, the Northern Region police spokesperson, said the number of suspects increased from four people who had earlier been paraded before the public to fifteen, after further investigations. “They belong to the same group that has been terrorising this area and we handed them to prosecution. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to find out whether there are more suspects,” he said. Some of the criminal activities the gang is accused of include the killing of a police officer, whom they allegedly shot in December last year. They are also accused of being responsible for two separate grenade attacks that killed one person and injured eight others. The two grenade attacks took place in January, one at the home of Musanze District mayor Winfirde Mpembyemungu which killed a one-and-a-half-year old girl and injured two while the other took place in Musanze town, injuring six. One of the key suspects in custody is Alfred Nsengimana, the former executive secretary of Cyuve Sector, Musanze District. Alain Mukuralinda, the spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution Authority, confirmed the development, adding that the suspects will be interrogated before they are arraigned before court. “We have received their dossiers. They are 15 and face four counts; murder, illegal procession fire arms, creation and belonging to a criminal gang, and terrorism. They will be interrogated further, and we have up to five days within which to decide who to produce before court,” Mukuralinda said. Hitayezu urged the residents to be vigilant and report any suspecious people.