Ghanaian footballer killed after armed attackers open fire at team bus
The team was returning from a fixture when they were attacked by "masked men wielding guns and assault rifles", officials say.
The police have launched a manhunt for the attackers (file photo) [Anadolu Agency via Getty Images] Ghanaian footballer Dominic Frimpong has died after suspected armed robbers opened fire at the bus carrying his team Berekum Chelsea back from a match. "Masked men wielding guns and assault rifles" ambushed the bus and "blocked the road" as the team returned home on Sunday, according to the club. Police say Frimpong sustained gunshot wounds and died while receiving treatment.
A manhunt for the suspects in under way. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) expressed its "profound shock and deep sorrow", describing the 20-year-old as a "promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league". The team was on the road back from a Ghana Premier League game against Samartex in Samreboi - 270km (170 miles) away from Berekum - which they lost 1-0.
"[The men] started shooting at our bus as the driver tried to reverse," Berekum Chelsea said in a statement on Monday. "The players and staff fled into nearby bushes to take cover. " According to Ghanaian authorities, the bus had been carrying 30 players and officials when it came under attack by six armed men.
The police said its regional command has "deployed additional personnel and crime scene experts to the area", and added that "perpetrators will be arrested within the shortest possible time". The GFA said it was in contact with the relevant authorities and the club, urging that "all necessary measures" should be taken to ensure justice is served. In a separate statement, the Ghana Premier League expressed its "unwavering backing" for the team during their "difficult moment", and called on security agencies to take "urgent steps to safeguard all participating clubs" as they travel for matches across the country.