PORT MORESBY (AFP) – Papua New Guinea’s police minister has condemned “horrific” claims of cannibalism swirling on social media, vowing “such barbarity” would not define the Pacific nation.
A group of machete-wielding men dangle what looks like a severed human foot in grisly photos published yesterday on the front page of Papua New Guinea’s largest newspaper.
Although the men are not filmed eating the body part, one of them appears to make a licking gesture while holding it up for the camera.
Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili said he was deeply troubled by images that appeared to depict “horrific acts of cannibalism”.
“A violent confrontation between two brothers escalated, leading to a heartbreaking outcome,” he told AFP.
“The conflict saw villagers taking sides, ultimately resulting in the gruesome killing of the elder brother by the younger sibling.”
