Vietnam police arrested 16 suspects after four officers were killed in shootings at police stations in the country’s coffee belt province of Dak Lak, according to a statement on the website of the Ministry of Public Security.
An armed group killed and injured officials and others early Sunday morning while attacking the police headquarters of the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes in the province’s Cu Kuin district, an earlier ministry statement said. It did not provide details on how many people were injured.
Two people held hostage during the ordeal were rescued while another managed to escape, according to the ministry.
The Central Highlands, known for its coffee production, has a history of political unrest among minority groups over land rights.
Authorities are pursuing other suspects, the Dak Lak government’s publication reported.
Gun violence is relatively rare in Vietnam. In 2020, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced two men to death for their role during a deadly protest over land being used for the construction of a military airport.
The five Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum grow about 90% of the country’s coffee crop. Vietnam is the world’s largest producer of robusta beans.
--With assistance from Mai Ngoc Chau.
(Updates with four officers killed in the first paragraph and other information throughout the story.)
