Six police officers and at least 21 civilians were killed, the sources said, as hundreds took to the streets frustrated by economic hardship and the government’s perceived failure to mitigate the impact of rising prices. The unrest is very unusual for Sierra Leone, especially in Freetown. A few people have been killed in isolated protests in other cities in recent years. A video verified by Reuters showed a police officer firing a gun into a crowd in Freetown. Sulaiman Turay, a 19-year-old who lives in the eastern part of the West African country’s capital, held a short march before police began firing tear gas and said he later saw protesters being shot from his porch. “I think people are shocked. It is not the country we know. Sierra Leone is a peaceful place,” he said. Police shoot protesters protesting cost of living hikes in Sierra Leone – video President Julius Maada Bio said the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s events would be fully investigated. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Other verified images from Freetown showed clouds of smoke and tear gas as large crowds threw stones and burned tires and armed officers patrolled the streets. The protests were concentrated in the opposition’s northern heartland and the capital. Citizens’ frustration has been exacerbated by rising prices of basic goods in a country where, according to the World Bank, more than half of the population of about 8 million people live below the poverty line. Wednesday’s death toll included two policemen killed in Freetown, three in the northern town of Kamakwie and one in the northern town of Makeni, Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu said. At least 13 civilians have been killed by gunfire in Freetown, staff at the city’s main mortuary said. Hospital sources said four civilians were killed in Kamakwie and another four in Makeni. An eerie calm had returned to Freetown on Thursday, residents said, as shops were closed and people stayed for fear of unrest. The internet was down for two hours on Wednesday and again overnight, according to online watchdog NetBlocks. Police said the curfew would remain in place from 7pm to 7am local time from Thursday, after the government imposed a 3pm curfew on Wednesday in a bid to curb the violence.
