About 40 civilians were killed this week when armed insurgents simultaneously attacked several villages in the northern Mali region, media reports said Friday.
“Several armed men, probably from terror groups, attacked several villages in the rural commune of Tessit, in the Gao region, killing about 40 civilians,” the Abamako newspaper reported, citing authorities.
The attackers, riding on about 50 motorcycles, raided six villages including Tadjalate, Tazime, Keygouroutane, Marsi, Bakane and Abagazoz.
The attackers are believed to be from Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), believed to be led by Malian Tuareg leader Iyad Ag Ghaly.
The report said the death toll could be higher because information was scanty based on the remoteness of the area.
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