African National Congress Official Murdered in Paris
An African National Congress official who recently told authorities she had received death threats and was being followed was shot and killed today while entering her office.
The body of Dulcie September, 45, was found in her northeast Paris apartment building, which also served as an office for the group.
September had represented the ANC in France, Switzerland and Luxembourg since 1984. The anti-apartheid group is outlawed in South Africa.
An ANC colleague said September recently told Interior Ministry officials that she had received threats and was being followed.
No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but ANC officials blamed South Africa. South Africa denied involvement.
The French news agency Agence-France Press said September was shot in the face while entering her office about 9 a.m. Her body was found surrounded by shells from a .22-caliber rifle.
She was holding letters in her hand and a key was in the door of the fourth-floor office, AFP reported. Sources at the scene said her attacker apparently was waiting when she arrived to begin her normal working day.
The ANC, the main black guerrilla group fighting to overthrow the South African government, maintains a worldwide network of about 20 “information offices,” including several in Europe, to lobby for support and receive aid.
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