by Scott Waide – EM TV, Lae
Two people have beenย shot by policeย in attempts toย disperse looters who tried to raid seven shops that burned overnight in Mt. Hagen City.
One of those killed is understood to be a high school studentย who was at the sceneย this morning when police opened fire.ย At least one residentย saidย the student was shot during clashes between members of the public andย police.ย
Police, defence and CSย officersย were called to the scene last night and have remained at the fire sceneย for the last 15 hoursย in efforts toย preventย hundreds of looters from taking advantage of the situation.
The fire is understood to haveย started in aย popular restaurantย in the heart of the city. As the night drew on, more buildingsย were consumed by the flames. Buildings belonging toย including Chemica, Highlands Pokies andย Yoshiโsย secondhand shop were destroyed in a space of 4 hours.
The Lae Chamber of Commerce has since issuedย a warning to travelers to refrain from travellingย to other parts along the highwayย becauseย police attention is currently focused on Mt. Hagen. Police have alsoย asked all business housesย in Hagen to remain closed until further notice.
โItโs a siege like situation,โ said one resident. โThere are up to 10 police cars in the city centre and roads have en blocked off.โ
