Maputo — A gang of criminals attacked a vehicle that was transporting large sums in cash in the western Mozambican province of Tete on Friday, and stole the money, contained in three bags.

According to a report on Radio Mozambique, the vehicle was transporting the money from Tete city to the branch of the country's largest commercial bank, the Millennium-BIM, in the town of Songo.

The attack took place in Mpadue neighbourhood, on the outskirts of Tete city. The criminals opened fire against the vehicle, killing the driver on the spot, and injuring four others, some of them seriously.

When the driver was shot, he lost the control of the vehicle, which overturned. The criminals grabbed the bags full of money, and made their escape.

One of the injured victims said that the thieves, who are still at large, were heavily armed.

Songo is the town where HCB, the company that operates the Cahora Bassa dam, has its headquarters. One of the injured bankworkers told Radio Mozambique that the stolen money was intended for HCB and other institutions based in Songo.