An armed attack targeted a shop in Ambohidrazaka, Alasora. The criminals made off with several million ariary after three gunshots, with no casualties. The Ambohidrazaka district in Alasora witnessed an armed robbery. Three shots rang out in Ambohidrazaka, Alasora, during an attack on a general merchandise shop the evening before last. One of the shopkeepers present fled, convinced that her husband, who remained inside the store, had been killed by the criminals. The couple and their small family ultimately escaped the worst. No injuries or deaths were recorded, but the bandits made off with several million ariary. "I cried for help and as I fled, I heard the detonation; I then thought my husband had just been shot inside. I was screaming that he was dead. The bandits fired a second time, and I screamed even louder. They fired a third time after taking the money, before leaving. They reloaded their weapon to fire again, but the bullet fell," recounted the shop owner. The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m., when streets were still busy and merchants were continuing their activities. Arriving on foot and with uncovered faces, the criminals gathered in front of the business, which serves as both a wholesale and retail store. Their presence did not arouse suspicion among residents until the first shots were fired. Second Time "There were six criminals. Four entered the shop, while the other two stayed outside. They were armed with rifles and knives. Upon entering, they brandished their weapons and threatened us. I fled as soon as I saw them. My husband and my younger brother, who remained inside, were confronted and ordered to hand over all the money. The gunshots followed one after another. They took approximately 5,300,000 ariary, as well as mobile phones and their chargers. Police and gendarmes arrived shortly after, but they failed to catch them," the victim reported. This would be the second time this merchant family has been targeted by an armed attack. Three days before this latest incident, they had also noticed suspicious activity. "Two years ago, in our former house, we lost 5 million ariary under similar circumstances. It could be the same criminals, because their way of speaking is identical. Last Thursday, two men came to buy drinks and I noticed a weapon at their belt. I already had suspicions, thinking they were preparing an attack," added the shopkeeper. Beyond the direct victims of that day's attack, anxiety and fear also gripped the residents and merchants of the neighborhood. The criminals had indeed spread terror by making death threats. "At first, we thought it was a firecracker or some other noise, and we didn't react. At the second shot, much louder, people understood it was indeed a weapon. We were ordered to lie on the ground, under threat of weapons. They didn't loot our shop, they only wanted to spread panic. The one who was threatening only left after his accomplice retrieved the money. We were devastated and didn't sleep all night because of the fright," testified a neighborhood shopkeeper. Nantenaina Njanahary