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Mauritius temporarily closes schools after night of unrest over police shooting

By Thomson Reuters Oct 13, 2026 | 1:17 AM

PORT LOUIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Mauritius closed schools in some parts of the country on Tuesday, the Ministry ​of Education said, following a ‌night of unrest that began when a police officer shot a young woman.

• A police sergeant has been provisionally charged in connection ‌with ​the shooting of Élodie ⁠Thomas, 27, local ⁠media reported without giving details on what led to the incident

• Thomas was wounded while travelling home from work ​in a van in a residential area south of the capital on ⁠Friday night

• Health Minister ⁠Anil Bachoo said Thomas underwent ​successful surgery to remove the bullet

• Police ​have not commented on the incident ‌but have said an investigation was underway

• Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads in parts of the country on ⁠Monday night, prompting police deployments

• The Prime Minister’s Office said the situation had returned to ⁠normal and ‌that all public sector services ⁠would operate as usual

• The ​education ‌ministry did not say when ​schools would ⁠reopen, saying it would give an update later

• Public unrest is rare on the Indian Ocean island

(Reporting by Jean Paul Arouff; Editing by George Obulutsa and ​Kate Mayberry)