At least 12 people have been killed and 60 people have been missing – mostly foreign nationals – in a militant attack in northern Mozambique, an East African country. Many were also injured in the incident.

According to the Guardian, the rebels attacked in Palma – where many foreign contractors have been working for a multibillion-dollar liquified natural gas project run by the French energy company Total – in northern Mozambique. 

After the attack, a few hundred foreign workers from South Africa, Britain and France sought refuge at hotels which later became the targets for rebel attacks. 

About 200 foreign workers were at the Hotel Amarula. A group of them in 17 vehicles drove together on Saturday to try to reach the beach, where they hoped to be rescued, however, their convoy came under heavy fire, local media reported.

After the attack, only 7 out of 17 vehicles could somehow reach shelter. The remaining 10 are still missing. It is believed that everyone in the “missing cars was killed”.

Omar Saranga, a spokesman for the defense and security forces, told reporters on Sunday that hundreds of people, including locals and foreigners, were rescued from Palma. “Rescue operations were carried out by various forces till Saturday. Many were rescued by air force helicopters.”

Seven people were killed and many were injured among the seven vehicles that eventually reached the safe place. Among the killed - five of them were locals. Besides, the 10 vehicles that are still missing have 50 to 60 foreign specialist officers and employees. “It is believed they were all killed,” Omar Saranga said.

However, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group Islamic State (IS) is believed to carry out the attack.

Source: The Guardian, BBC, CNN.