UPDATE: Friday,????? ???????? ??????? ???????? June 10, 10:35 a.m. AEST Days later, the number of students injured has still not been confirmed. PNG Government said the original claim of four deaths was false. Students claim more than one dozen were injured.
Police have reportedly opened fire on a group of student protesters in Papua New Guinea.
On Wednesday, reports started to filter out on Twitter stating that police shot at a crowd of university students as they were marching from the University of Papua New Guinea to Parliament.
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According to ABC News, Port Moresby Hospital confirmed 10 students had been admitted. The publication is also reporting that four students have been killed and seven people have been injured. No deaths have been confirmed.
"They fired shots, they fired shots directly at the crowd," student Gerald Peni told ABC News. "They fired tear gases, I was right in front. And many of the students they fell, they got injured, we don't know how many casualties we may have at the moment."
Reports that police open fire against University of #PNG students protest against O'Neill govt #breakingnews #news pic.twitter.com/PNcVKprmCp
— MARTYN (@Mangiwantok) June 8, 2016
Footage emerged of what sounded like gunfire near the protesters. Following the initial incident, violence flared up around the university with cars being set on fire and a standoff between police and protesters happening outside the hospital, according to numerous posts on social media.
Footage of shots being fired #upng #PNG @prawn_gravies pic.twitter.com/aiDpNH96o3
— Elvina P Ogil (@Muntika_Elvix) June 8, 2016
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A building at the University of #PNG has been set on fire pic.twitter.com/xPDawo6R9z
— MARTYN (@Mangiwantok) June 8, 2016
As the violence continued, mothers took to the street to mourn in Port Moresby. The women covered their faces in mud and raised their hands above their heads as they walked down the road.
Mothers mourn for killed #UPNG Students. #PNG #PortMoresby #papuanewguinea Photo Sam Koim pic.twitter.com/H607s5AAC1
— Nas lutas (@PersonalEscrito) June 8, 2016
University of #PNG mourns its fallen students pic.twitter.com/EiZqaiGd05
— MARTYN (@Mangiwantok) June 8, 2016
The protest, which has been ongoing for five weeks, is targeted at Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Students have demanded he step down and urged members of his party to abandon him over corruption allegations.
The Australian government updated its warning to people travelling to the region. It stopped short of confirming any deaths.
"On 8 June 2016, there was unrest in and around the University of PNG campus in Waigani related to ongoing student protests. Early information indicates that firearms have been used and there are an unconfirmed number of deaths and serious injuries," the website read.
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