Six Hacked to Death in Burundi 'Witch' Attack

Villagers in northeast Burundi hacked to death a woman accused of witchcraft and five members of her family, including a baby and two other children, local authorities said Sunday.

On Saturday "a group of people attacked the home of an old woman called Marthe Kabatesi in the Bwambarangwe district," said Reverien Nzigamasabo, governor of Kirundo province where the killings took place.

"They hacked her to death with machetes," he told Agence France Presse.

The assailants then attacked the woman's two daughters and three grandchildren, including a three-month old baby.

"All the victims were killed by cuts to the head and neck," Nzigamasabo said, calling the attack unjustifiable.

He added that the old woman targeted had been accused of being responsible for deaths in the region.

Witchcraft is widespread in some parts of the impoverished central African country and several people suspected by villagers of practicing sorcery are killed each year.