The mayor of Xai-Xai, Emídio Xavier, was attacked on Saturday inside his car at his home by an armed individual still at large in Gaza province, in the south of the country.

The attacker, whose whereabouts are still unknown, also vandalized the mayor's car. He was carrying two firearms, an AKM and a pistol.

In order to carry out the act, the individual questioned the victim outside his home and assaulted the mayor, who suffered some bruises. Xavier was promptly rescued and taken to Xai-Xai provincial hospital.

"That attack happened outside my house, and I'm currently under medical care at home, recovering from the trauma and I'm getting the situation under control. I suffered some abrasions and trauma," said Xavier, quoted by Rádio Moçambique.

However, the mayor reassured residents that he was in good health. "We're fine, and we want to reassure people not to panic because the major panic has passed," he said.

For his part, the commander of the Xai-Xai Municipal Police, Manuel Alberto, confirms the act.

"As he was passing through the street, [the individual] came across a patrol and snatched the gun from one of the colleagues stationed at that post and headed for the president's residence," Alberto explained.

Once inside the mayor's residence, according to the commander, the perpetrator "immobilized his colleague [the security guard] who was there, snatched his pistol and went to where the mayor was. With the butt of the AKM, he smashed the [window of the] mayor's car, threw a few blows and punches at the mayor, threatening him. Then he left the scene.

The police authorities, according to Alberto, have already recovered the two weapons, explaining that the perpetrator is known to the authorities and an operation has already been launched to track down the perpetrator.