Police in Tanzania are investigating five men caught in a video allegedly raping a young woman, sparking outrage in the East African state.
The security services have not yet commented on allegations that the suspects are soldiers.
Police said the investigation was proceeding “progressively” but could not confirm reports that any arrests had been made.
They denied that the young woman died after the ordeal, calling the claims “untruths.”
“This young lady is very safe,” police said in a statement posted on X.
In a separate message, police warned the public not to share the video online, “to prevent the victim and her family from being tortured.”
The video of the alleged gang rape began circulating online on Sunday, sending shockwaves through Tanzania, a deeply conservative society.
According to local media, the country is struggling with a rise in gender-based violence and some cases go unreported.
It is unclear when the video was recorded, but the victim is believed to be a resident of Yombo Dovya, a suburb of the commercial city of Dar es Salaam.
Police have urged people to remain calm as investigations continue, adding: “Detailed information about the incident will be released once we have completed the legal procedures.”
Human rights organizations and social media users are calling on authorities to take swift and decisive action.
The Legal and Human Rights Center warned that “ignoring these problems will only lead to them becoming more common in our society”.
Lawyers from the Tanganyika Law Society condemned what they called a “gross violation of both the laws of the country and societal norms”.
Interior Minister Hamad Masauni said the suspects had “already” been arrested, but gave no further details.
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