2. Ruhengeri Town is located in Kigombe Commune, central Ruhengeri Prefecture. Yhe residences of the non-governmental organisations Médicos del Mundo-España and Save the Children Fund-UK are situated in Kabaya Sector, Kigombe Commune, a central residential neighbourhood of Ruhengeri Town, at a distance of around half a kilometre from cach other. The residence of Médecins sans Frontières-Hollande is located around two kilometres from the two other residences (see attached map).
3. Following the attacks, the majority of international non-governmental organisations and international organisations withdrew their personnel from Ruhengeri and temporarily suspended their activities in the prefecture.
5. At around 8 p.m., a gropu of around 12 armed men, including a number wearing military uniforms, arrived at the residence of MDM. It has not been possible to determine the identity of the armed men or the exact type of military uniform they werw wearing. The group informed the guards of MDM that they had come to guarantee the safety of the residents. Four members of the group entered the residence through the main door, which was unlocked. Three of the men were carrying rifles, the fourth was carrying a revolver.
6. At the time of the incident, four international staff members of MDM were present in the house, namely three Spanish nationals, including a women, and one U.S. national. The group of four armed individuals told the members of MDM that they were carrying out an identity check and requested to see their passports. The request was carried out in relative calm.
7. The remainder of the group of assailants remained outside the residence. They were reportedly talking in Swahili. One of the Spanish staff members of MDM walked out of the residence and was asked by the group to band over his money and watch. The request was caried our without discussion.
8. Inside the residence, one member of the group, apparently the leader, sat in the sitting room and spoke to the three other residents in French. The fourth resident subsequently joined the other residents in the sitting room. One of the assailants started searching through the drawers of furniture, stole some money, tore out the phone line, and took a computer. The assailant then searched the other rooms. The group then left the residence.
9. A few moments after the group had left the residence, the sound of gunshots was heard in the compound. Two staff members of MDM threw themselves on the floor in the sitting room and the remaining two ran towards the corridor. The apparent leader of the group of assailants entered the sitting room and shot at the two members of MDM who were lying on the floor, killing one of the Spanish nationals and severely injuring the U.S. national. Another assailant shot and killed the two other Spanish nationals who were attempting to escape through the corridor. The group of assailants subsequently fled from the scene of the incident.
10. One of the two house guards entered the residence in order to provide assistance to the members of MDM. The U.S. national asked the guard to transport him to the hospital. Upon leaving the compound by car, they were stopped in front of the house by ans RPA patrol and were asked for their destination. The guard stated that he was transporting the injured to the hospital, and they were allowed to proceed.
11. The injured U.S. national was treated at the hospital in Ruhengeri by expratiated doctors who has been informed about the incident. Due to the severity of the injuries the victim's right leg was amputated.
12. The MDM guard who had transported the injured U.S. national to the hospital was arrested by RPA soldiers when the returned to the MDM residence later that night. The guard was subsequently detained at the military camp of Muhoza in Ruhengeri Town. According to military authorities, during the morning of 20 January, the guard was shot and killed by RPA soldiers whilst attempting to escape. The second house guard was arrested on 20 January and detained at the Ruhengeri Gendarmerie Brigade.
13. Around 7:15 p.m. the sound of people running and shouting followed by the sound of gunshots was heard over a period of around five minutes in the vicinity of the residence of international staff members of the non-governmental organisations Médecins sans Frontières-Hollande (MSF). The residents locked the doors ot their residence, switched of all lighting, and contacted the office of HFFOR-Ruhengeri. HRFOR-Rugengeri contacted the local RPA authorities who stated that they would take apropriate measures to ensure the security of expatriate staff of NGOs and other international organisations.
14. A few moments later, and RPA patrol arrived at the residence of MSF and questioned the guards about the incident. The patrol left the residence after the guards stated that the MSF compound had not been attacked.
15. Around 7:30 p.m., the residents of MSF received security instructions from UNHCR-Kigali, namely to ensure that all doors were locked ; to lie down in a corridor, to extinguish all lights inside the residence; and to turn on any outside lights.
16. Around 8:15 p.m., further shots were heard in the proximity of the MSF residence According to reports, the shots were directed against a bust that had come to a standstill outside the MSF compound. A few moments later, ans individual entered the compound by climbing over the gate. The individual subsequently opened the gate and a group the eight to ten armed unidentified men wearing military uniforms entered the compound. Acoording to the house guards, the group were RPA soldiers stationed in Ruhengeri.
17. The group requested the residents to open the door of their residence. The residents refused to open the door. Following the refusal of the residents to allow access to the residence, the group looted a container located outside the house and told the guards to carry the contents outside the compound. The house guards noted the presence of a group of soldiers, lying flat of the ground in front of the MSF compound. The guards were able to escape.
18. The group of soldiers who had remained inside the compound opened fire on the four vehicles parked in the enclosure and left an unexploded mortar and grenade next to the vehicles. Several bullets hit the residence. The group left the compound around 8:30 p.m.
19. Around 11 p.m., the residents were informed by MSF Kigali that arrangements were being made for an RPA patrol to go the MSF compound to ensure the security of expatriates. Around 11:15 p.m. the patrol arrived at the MSF compound. The residnts refused to open the doors ot their residence. Six RPA soldiers guarded the residence until the following morning.
B. Attack against the residence of Save the Children Fund-UK
20. Around 7:40 p.m., gunshots were fired from a short distance away from the residence of an international staff member of the non-governmental organisation Save the Children Fund-UK (SCF). A number of bullets hit the metallic door of the residence and several windows were broken.
21. Around 7:50 p.m., the sound of an explosion was heard in the compound of SCF. A few moments later, the sound of a second explosion was heard and the house was hit by a grenade, the impact of which shattered several windows of the residence and the windscreens of vehicles parked in the compound. Several bullets hit the residence and broke additional windows. The shooting lasted until around 8 p.m.
22. According to military authorities, the sound of shooting was heard by members of an RPA patrol who were in the area. The patrol reportedly proceeded to the residence of SCF and chased the perpetrators away. No casualties nor arrest were reported to have occurrend during the alleged confrontation.
23. Shortly thereafter, a group of RPA soldiers arrived and asked to speak to the residents. One of the soldiers was carrying a rocket propelled grenade. The SCF staff member refused to open the door. He subsequently contacted local military authorities by telephone, via HRFOR-Ruhengeri, who confirmed that the group was indeed and RPA patrol. The resident still refused to open the door. Three RPA soldiers guarded the SCF residence until the following morning.