Papua New Guinea: Foreign national murdered during robbery in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, March 22

Event

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a Chinese national in the Takubar area, just east of Kokopo, the morning of March 22. According to officials, around 10 men entered and attempted to rob the shop around 09:00. The victim, the shop's keeper, intervened to stop the robbery, prompting one of the perpetrators to shoot him. The assailant and robbers fled the scene. A search for the suspects is ongoing.

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, and the incident highlights the importance of not confronting attackers during robberies. The incident occurs amid rising concerns over the spread of COVID-19, which threatens to impact the economy further. A rise in criminal activity is possible in the coming weeks and months.