Gunmen kill at least 19 at fish market in DR Congo

Monusco, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo says it is investigating the attack. AFP/Alexis Huguet

At least 19 people have been killed by gunmen at a fish market in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, near Lake Albert in the Ituri region, local authorities revealed on Sunday.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place on Wednesday, but the region around Ituri province has been by violence between militias from the Hema and Lendu communities.

"Nineteen corpses were found in the village of Tara on the edge of Lake Albert, and eight others were wounded," said Pilo Mulindo, a community leader in Djugu territory.

"Armed bandits attacked a group gathered on the beach to set up a market," the official said.

The UN mission to the DRC, MONUSCO, reported the attack without giving a precise death toll. It said it planned to send a team to the area.