Man opens fire on people watching Chelsea v Everton on television at bar in Juba after reportedly being refused entry

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A gunman killed at least 13 people watching a football match in a bar in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, at the weekend, police have said.

The death toll had risen to 13 after some who were injured in the shooting during the game between Chelsea and Liverpool on Saturday night died of their wounds, a police spokesman, Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc, said. Ten others were being treated in hospital.

Among the injured was Wani Patrick, who was recovering from a bullet wound to his hand. “When I was shot I fell and some youths fell on top of me. I was unable to stand until he finished shooting all his bullets,” he said. “Many people were shot and many people died.”

The gunman, who appeared drunk, according to reports, grew angry after being refused free entry to the bar where patrons had paid about ¢50 to watch the Premier League match on television.

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The man stormed off, said Amondoc, adding: “When he came back he was carrying a gun and just started shooting randomly.”

The attack happened at about 9pm local time in Gure, a suburb in south-west Juba.

The whereabouts of the gunman were unclear and investigations were under way, said Paul Akol Kordit, a government spokesman. “It’s very unfortunate and we condemn this in the very strongest terms possible,” he added.

Kordit pledged that the government “will do what we can to protect our people and bring to book those who are killing innocent [people]”.

Insecurity in Juba has worsened since a civil war erupted nearly three years ago. Widespread fighting has led to an increase in criminality and armed violence.

In July, the capital became a battleground as forces loyal to the president, Salva Kiir, clashed with those of his former deputy turned rebel leader, Riek Machar, forcing Machar to flee.

Successive rounds of internationally backed ceasefire talks and agreements have failed to bring peace to the world’s newest country, which won independence from Sudan in 2011.