大象传媒

The government in Mozambique says dozens of people have been killed in an Islamist attack on the town of Palma in the north of the country - with some analysts saying the death toll may be in the hundreds.

The attack came just as the French energy giant Total announced it would restart operations at its gas project close to the town - after fighting in December prompted it to evacuate its staff.

During the attack, more than 100 workers and civilians - including a number of expats - took refuge in the town's Amarula Palma hotel. A rescue attempt resulted in a number of people being killed. Many more escaped to the beach and were rescued by locals in small boats.

Adriano Nuvunga, the director of the Centre for Democracy and Development in Maputo, says he's heard reports of bodies on the beach and beheadings. He says it's a clear failure of intelligence - and a disaster for the government as it tries to encourage foreign firms to invest in the area.

He told Newsday: "This was brutal... The indications we have is that the violent extremists were coming in one by one with bags and weapons in their backpacks... They've been attacking from within, which I think was difficult to control, as they were mingled with civilians and local communities."

(Photo: A map showing Palma, where attack took place, and Pemba, where survivors are being taken. Credit: 大象传媒)

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