Papua New Guinea: Taiwanese national killed during armed robbery in Kabakaul, East New Britain Province, Jan. 10

Event

A Taiwanese man was killed during an armed robbery in Kabakaul, East New Britain Province, Jan. 10. Approximately 20 assailants robbed the Stay Cool Kabakaul store at about 02:00 PGT and struck the Taiwanese national with a sharp object. The robbers fled the scene. Police are searching for the suspects.

Context

The threat of crime is high across Papua New Guinea, and criminals can target foreign nationals. However, reports of murder against foreign nationals are rarer. The incident highlights the importance of not confronting attackers during robberies, as robbers may resort to violence if they are met with resistance or are otherwise provoked. Armed assailants killed a Chinese national in nearby Takubar who intervened during a shop robbery in March 2021.