14 dead in bar shooting in Soweto: South Africa police

Johannesburg, July 10

A mass shooting at a tavern in Soweto township here has killed 14 people and left three others in critical condition, according to police.

Police say they are investigating reports that a group of men arrived in a minibus taxi and opened fire on some of the patrons at the bar late on Saturday night.

Police were on Sunday morning removing bodies of the deceased and investigating what had led to the mass shooting.

The three critically injured and one other wounded person had been taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

The number of cartridges found on the scene indicated it was a group of people who shot at the patrons, said Gauteng province police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela.

“The primary investigation suggests that these people were enjoying themselves here, in a licensed tavern operating within the right hours," Mawela told The Associated Press.

“All of a sudden, they heard some gunshots. That is when people tried to run out of the tavern. We don't have the full details at the moment of what was the motive, and why were they targeting these people," he said.

“A high caliber firearm was used and it was shooting randomly. Each one of them was struggling to get out of the tavern,” Mawela told The Associated Press.