Bangui, – A broadcaster at the Central African Republic’s state-owned radio in Bangui said unidentified gunmen stormed the station early on Tuesday in a failed attempt to force entry into the main studio.
He said the unknown number of assailants attacked the radio’s offices, which were being guarded by three gendarmes, at around 1 a.m.
The broadcaster said they shattered the control board and headed for Studio A, but weren’t able to break down the door.
He said having failed to enter the studio, the attackers briefly took one of the gendarme hostage before abandoning him with a broken arm.
The broadcaster said the attackers’ motive was not clear and authorities from the security services and the current transitional government are yet to comment on the incident.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Central Africans are due to go to the polls on Oct. 18 to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections.
The elections are seen as critical to restoring democratic rule and drawing a line under the two-year inter-religious conflict.(Reuters/NAN)