Meknes – Bystanders watched in horror in the Algerian province of Sidi Bel Abbes Friday as a man with a high powered rifle stood on the road, shooting at civilians passing by.
In a two minute clip posted on social media, the man can be seen with a rifle slung across his shoulder casually walking across an open road in Sidi Bel Abbes. He then proceeds to fire off a round, as civilians can be heard screaming as they attempt to escape his path.
According to local reports, the man wounded four civilians during his shooting spree. One element of the video that has been widely noted was the lack of Algerian law enforcement officials. The lack of government response led to harsh criticisms from internet users that watched the mayhem.
Neither the Algerian press or government has yet to comment on the situation. According to data reports, there are approximately 877,000 guns in civilian hands in Algeria. The situation has created a deadly situation for the population, especially due to the lack of consistent law enforcement presence.
Despite a potential sentence of ten years in prison for illegal firearm possession, the country has seen a rise in gun violence over the past decade. Data from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes reflected a homicide rate of nearly 80 people via firearms within Algeria in 2015.
Due to the ongoing political instability in Algeria, firearms remain readily accessible in the country, and with continued lack of a police presence, Algerian civilians will continue to be in a vulnerable situation each time a mass shooting occurs.
