2 held for attack on Togo footballers
January 11th, 2010 - 10:04 pm ICT by IANSLuanda/Johannesburg, Jan 11 (DPA) Two people have been arrested in connection with the gun attack on the bus carrying the Togo football team in Angola that left three people dead, Angolan state media reported Monday.
The Angop news agency said the two suspects were arrested in the province of Cabinda where the machine-gun attack took place Friday, two days before the Africa Cup of Nations.
The separatist Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened further attacks during the football tournament, which runs until the end of the month.
Togo’s national football team flew home Sunday from Angola after pulling out of the tournament.
The opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations between hosts Angola and Mali went ahead Sunday in the capital Luanda while Cabinda is scheduled to host its first match later Monday when Ivory Coast take on Burkina Faso.
Although the match between Togo and Ghana has been called off, there have been suggestions that the Togo team could return to play its other matches at the end of the three days of national mourning declared in honour of the victims.
The bus driver, assistant coach Abalo Amnalete and team spokesman Stanislas Ocloo died in the attack. Goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was airlifted to an intensive care unit in South Africa to receive treatment for gunshot wounds.
Officials at Johannesburg’s Milpark hospital said Monday that the medical team treating Obilale was “satisfied” with his progress.
“He will however remain in the trauma intensive care unit until he is fully out of danger,” Professor Ken Boffard of the hospital’s specialized trauma team was quoted as saying by South African Press Association.
- Togo withdraws, goalkeeper operated upon in South Africa (Lead) - Jan 10, 2010
- Togo footballers return home to national mourning - Jan 11, 2010
- Confusion continues over Togo's participation - Jan 10, 2010
- Africa Cup of Nations starts as confusion continues - Jan 11, 2010
- Togo prepared to stay if they play elsewhere - Jan 09, 2010
- Togo withdraws from football tourney after terror attack (Lead) - Jan 10, 2010
- Togo confirms withdrawal from Africa Cup of Nations - Jan 10, 2010
- Attack on Togo players an attempt to discredit Africa - Feb 05, 2010
- Several injured in attack on Togo's Africa Cup team - Jan 09, 2010
- Angolan rebels claim responsibility for attack on Togo team - Jan 09, 2010
- Africa Cup of Nations to go on despite terror attack (Lead) - Jan 09, 2010
- Distraught Adebayor attends funeral of pals - Jan 16, 2010
- South Africa's World Cup boss dismisses security concerns - Jan 12, 2010
- 'Terrified' Togo players do not want to stay for Africa Cup: Adebayor - Jan 09, 2010
- South African Football Association sends condolences to Togo FA - Jan 10, 2010
Tags: africa cup of nations, angop news, assistant coach, burkina faso, cabinda, capital luanda, flec, football tournament, gun attack, gunshot wounds, intensive care unit, ivory coast, medical team, milpark, national football team, national mourning, professor ken, stanislas, team spokesman, trauma team