Officials: Gang kills at least 26 villagers in remote Papua New Guinea

At least 26 people were reportedly killed by a gang in three remote villages in Papua New Guinea’s north, United Nations and police officials say.

Baugen told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that all the houses in the villages had been burned and the remaining villagers were sheltering at a police station, too scared to name the perpetrators.

U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement Wednesday that the attacks happened on July 16 and July 18.

Turk said at least 26 people had reportedly died, including 16 children.