A spokesman for the DRC army says that the leader of an attempted coup in the country has been killed, and several people, including three American citizens, have been arrested.

A Reuters correspondent said that gunfire erupted at 4 a.m. in the capital, Kinshasa. According to spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge, armed individuals stormed the presidential office in the city center.

PHOTO | COURTESY 

Another incident occurred near the residence of Vital Kamerhe, a member of parliament who is expected to become speaker, according to Kamerhe's spokesperson, Michel Moto Muhima, and the Japanese embassy, who both posted on X.

Moto Muhima claimed two guards and an assailant were killed in the event. Ekenge also stated that one attacker was slain there.

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PHOTO | COURTESY Men in military fatigues inside the Palace of the Nation during an attempted coup in Kinshasa

A shell launched from Kinshasa struck the city of Brazzaville in the adjoining Republic of Congo, hurting numerous persons, according to the country's authorities, which also reported that one person was hospitalized.

PHOTO | COURTESY DRC

Ekenge cited Christian Malanga, a Congolese politician living in the United States, as the commander of the attempted coup.

He said Malanga tried and failed a coup in 2017, and one of the Americans jailed was Malanga's son.

A Facebook page purporting to belong to Malanga broadcast a live-streamed video of what seemed to be an attack.

PHOTO | COURTESY DRC residents fleeing 

In a social media post, U.S. Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn said she was "very concerned" about claims that American individuals were participating in the activities.

"Please be assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved in criminal acts," she said.