Feb 22, 2021, 4:04 PM

Italian ambassador to Congo killed in attack on UN convoy

TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (MNA) – The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed along with two others on Monday in an attack on a United Nations convoy in the east of the country, local park authorities and diplomats said.

The convoy was attacked near the town of Kanyamahoro at around 10:15 am local time and was part of a kidnap attempt, the Virunga National Park told Reuters news agency.

Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio was evacuated after park rangers intervened, the park said, but later died.

Many armed groups operate in and around Virunga, which lies along Congo's borders with Rwanda and Uganda. Six Virunga rangers were killed in January.

MR/PR

News ID 170272