Terrifying moment a Burundian police officer opened fire on anti-government protesters at point-blank range, causing a furious mob to attack her

This is the moment a Burundian police officer opened fire on anti-government protesters at point-blank range, causing a furious mob to attack her with stones and knives.

The incident took place on the streets of the capital Bujumbura as officers clashed with dozens of rioters who had taken to the street to demonstrate against President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial bid for third term in office. More photos below...



Video footage shows the female officer looking agitated as she and her fellow officers slowly move towards the rioters, who stand pressed against a brick wall. Moments later a brief scuffle between one of her colleagues and a rioter leads to her shooting at the man from no more than ten feet.

Just seconds after the shots were fired, the policewoman was punched, kicked and dragged along the streets of Bujumbura by a furious mob who managed to separate her from her colleagues.

Harrowing images show the woman attempting to flee for her life while knife and stone-wielding men fight among themselves to reach her. Eventually the female officer's colleagues managed to get between her and her attackers, enabling her to flee to safety with only minor injuries.

This morning the Burundian army claimed to have seized control of the East African country, adding that they were deposing embattled Nkurunziza. Those claims were quickly denied by the presidential office, however, which posted a message Twitter saying that an attempted coup had failed.

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