Angry crowd kills 3 Chinese nationals in Central African Republic

BANGUI, Central African Republic — The government of Central African Republic says three Chinese nationals have been killed and three others wounded in an attack by community members angry about the disappearance of their youth leader.

Government spokesman Ange Maxime Kazagui said Friday the act of banditry by residents will not go unpunished. He said the Chinese nationals were killed by crowds on Thursday while waiting at the gendarmerie as part of an investigation into the disappearance.

The youth leader’s brother, Mathurin Dimbele-Nakoe, described the Chinese as employees of a mining company in Sosso-Nakombo and said they had asked for accompaniment to a mining site on the river. Their boat tipped and the youth leader has not been found.

The Chinese Embassy in Bangui did not respond to a request for comment.