CAPE TOWN, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Seven men were killed in a mass shooting in Cape Town, Western Cape Province of South Africa, on Friday night, local police have confirmed.
The incident occurred on Road R53 in Philippi East, a suburb in Cape Town's Cape Flats area, where seven men aged between 20 and 30 were fatally shot in what authorities described as a "senseless act of violence."
According to a statement issued Saturday morning by the South African Police Service (SAPS), police in the Western Cape have launched a large-scale manhunt following the shooting.
"Detectives attached to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit have been assigned to the case and are pursuing every available lead to identify and apprehend those responsible for this brutal attack," the statement said.
"The Western Cape police management has strongly condemned this senseless act of violence and confirmed that the investigation has been prioritized to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice," it added.
In the statement, Provincial Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile expressed concern about the level of violence and appealed to community members to assist the police by sharing any information that could aid the investigation.
"Community cooperation is crucial to bringing those responsible to book and restoring safety to our neighborhoods," Patekile said.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no arrests have been made. ■