KINHASA, 23 February, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Italy’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Luca Attanasio, his bodyguard, Vittorio Iacovacci and a Congolese driver from the UN World Food Program were killed in the east of the country after their convoy was attacked.

The deaths of the ambassador, Luca Attanasio, 43, Italian military policeman Vittorio Iacovacci, 30, and a Congolese driver, whose name has not been released, were confirmed by the Italian government.

"When we heard gunshots we did not know what had happened we went to the scene they had just kidnapped the ambassador, they took him into the bush and immediately they clashed with the park guards," one witness, who did not give his name, told the media.

"They managed to shoot the ambassador, they shot a driver, and the ambassador's security officer died.

"And then suddenly the FARDC (DRC armed forces) went there and they managed to save the ambassador to take him to Goma for intensive care."

Several others have been reported as wounded and have been taken to hospital.

The government ministers and President have condemned the incident.