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Angry mob lynch two phone thieves in Pangani

County Police Commander Nyambu Mwakio said search and rescue operations were underway to establish whether there were more casualties. (Photo: Handout)

By Anas Mohamed | Friday, November 24, 2023

In a dramatic turn of events, what began as a report of an active mob injustice in Pangani Shopping Centre resulted in the tragic demise of two suspected thieves.

In a dramatic turn of events, what began as a report of an active mob injustice in Pangani Shopping Centre resulted in the tragic demise of two suspected thieves.

The incident unfolded at yesterday when a concerned member of the public, using the mobile number, reported an ongoing mob injustice near Petro Filling Station within Pangani Shopping Centre, opposite Jubilee House. According to the report, two individuals had allegedly snatched a mobile phone from an unidentified man within the shopping centre.

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In a rapid response, the Pangani Police, led by officers from Pangani, swiftly arrived at the scene. However, what they encountered was beyond the typical realm of law enforcement intervention. The lifeless bodies of the two suspected thieves were discovered lying on the ground beneath a motorcycle, which, curiously, lacked a visible registration number. The motorcycle had been set ablaze, and the fire had engulfed both victims, leaving them burnt beyond recognition.

Members of the public, joining hands with the police officers, collaborated to extinguish the flames that had consumed the bodies. The chaotic scene unfolded as the remnants of the burning motorcycle illuminated the immediate area.

The Special Service Unit (SOC) Standby Officers from Starehe arrived promptly to process and document the gruesome scene. Despite the efforts to preserve evidence, the bodies, tragically burnt, offered little in terms of immediate identification. The lack of recognisable features posed a challenge in establishing the identities of the deceased.

The body were later moved to City Motuary.

The initial act of alleged theft escalated into a swift and unbridled response from an enraged public, resulting in a macabre display of vigilante justice. As investigators delve into the unfolding of events leading to the deaths of the suspected thieves, questions about the thin line between justice and mob violence loom large over this disturbing incident in Pangani.