Engan man killed as protest escalates in Lae City

A man from Enga was killed this morning by angry Morobe youths as protest escalates and  tension remains very high in Papua New Guinea's industrial city of Lae.

Police tried to contain the situation but the youths outnumbered them and are behaving very rowdy at the moment.

No PMV from Highlands is entering or leaving Lae as the Highway has been blocked off by the youths.
The public has been warned not to go to places around the Eriku and Boundary road area for safety And security reasons.

Yesterday more than 400 youths around Lae City mobilized and attacked informal market vendors and pickpockets.
The incident was in relation to the attack on Lae City Enforcement officers last Friday when they warned informal market vendors not to do business in public places but were attacked by vendors, who were believed to be from Highlands Region.It was also said that the vendors also burnt the Morobe Provincial Flag.
Youths mainly from Morobe started to attack vendors and petty criminals at 8am on Monday morning which saw schools and business houses, government agencies and PMV services came to an abrupt stop.