Italy's ambassador Luca Attanasio killed in Congo attack

GOMA – Italy's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo has been killed in an attack, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The Italian foreign ministry said Luca Attanasio, a carabinieri police officer who was providing security for him and a third person were killed in Goma.

"It is with deep sadness that the foreign ministry confirms the death, today in Goma, of the Italian ambassador," the ministry's statement said.

They were traveling in a UN convoy in Congo but the ministry provided no other details.

Attacco in Congo, morto l'ambasciatore italiano Luca Attanasio. La matrice dell'attentato non è ancora chiara https://t.co/8Xw8GLq0uj #ANSA pic.twitter.com/keGXtWipZ7

— Agenzia ANSA (@Agenzia_Ansa) February 22, 2021

The convoy reportedly belonged to the UN's World Food Programme (WFP).

The Reuters news agency quoting a source from the Virunga National Park said the convoy was attacked during a kidnap attempt near the town of Kanyamahoro at around 10.15 am local time (8.15am GMT).

Italy’s foreign minister Luigi Di Maio expressed his “immense pain” at his death.

È una giornata buia e triste per l’Italia.
Abbiamo appreso con grande sgomento e immenso dolore della morte del nostro Ambasciatore nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, Luca Attanasio, e di un militare dell’Arma dei Carabinieri, Vittorio Iacovacci.
➡️ https://t.co/TPRrNFtz9u

— Luigi Di Maio (@luigidimaio) February 22, 2021

“The circumstances of this brutal attack are not yet known and no effort will be spared to shed light on what happened,” he said.

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Deeply shocked and saddened by the demise of Ambassador Luca Attanasio of #Italy and a Carabinieri officer in a horrific attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Heartfelt condolences to friendly Italy, bereaved families and the Italian nation. @luigidimaio

— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) February 22, 2021

Armed groups are known to operate in an around the park, which borders both Rwanda and Uganda.