Italian ambassador to Congo among three people killed in attack on UN convoy

The Italian ambassador to Congo, an Italian police officer and their Congolese driver have been killed in an attack on a United Nations convoy.

The ambush occurred as ambassador Luca Attanasio was travelling from Goma, Congo’s eastern regional capital, to visit a World Food Program school feeding project in Rutshuru.

Local officials say it is an area where many rival rebel groups are based.

But the ambush occurred on a road that had previously been cleared for travel without security escorts.

The dead carabinieri officer was identified as Vittorio Iacovacci, while the driver’s name had yet to be released, UN officials said.

Other members of the convoy were injured and taken to a local UN hospital.