Police round up ringleaders of deadly attacks in Central Highlands

Police have arrested suspected ringleaders of gun attacks in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on Sunday, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security.

More than 50 people have been detained for their direct involvement in the attacks on the headquarters of the people’s committees of Ea Ktur and Ea Tieu communes, Cu Kuin district. A number of firearms have also been seized.

Most of the suspects are very young, and many of them are from the ethnic minorities in Dak Lak province, said a representative from the ministry. "They claimed they had been wound up and coerced into taking part in the violence," the source added.

Y Tho Ayun, 35, from Ayun hamlet, Cu Puong commune, Krong Buk district, one of the suspected leaders, confessed on Thursday that he had convinced people to take part in the attacks, but only those who trusted him.

The attacks occurred at around 0:35 a.m. on Sunday when two groups of motorcyclists with guns and other dangerous weapons stormed into the headquarters of the two communal people’s committees.

The attackers killed the Party chief of Ea Ktur commune, the chairman of Ea Tieu commune, four police officers, and three civilians, while injuring two police officers and a number of residents. They also held three people hostage. Two hostages were rescued, while the third escaped.

The gunmen were "organized, spontaneous, reckless, barbaric and inhumane", said Ministry of Public Security spokesman To An Xo on Wednesday.

At the communal headquarters in Cu Kuin district, they stormed through glass doors, shot officials, and used homemade weapons to attack the victims, and then threw petrol bombs to fire the headquarters. They also stopped cars and shot drivers and residents, Xo added.

According to the spokesman, the suspects initially confessed that “they were told to kill any communal officials and police officers they met, and then steal assets and firearms".

Before attacking the two communal headquarters, the gunmen had intended to break into Special Operations Brigade 198 stationed in Hoa Dong commune, Krong Pac district to steal weapons, but their plan failed.

The Ministry of Public Security said that it will "take all necessary measures" to capture the remaining suspects and seize weapons and explosives.

On Friday, the communal headquarters resumed normal operations, with many residents arriving to handle paperwork.