Grenade kills 3 children watching TV in Burundi

BUJUMBURA - Three children were killed when a grenade exploded as they were watching television at a hair salon Thursday in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura, the interior ministry said.

Another eight children were injured, some of them seriously, Pierre Nkurikiye told a press conference, adding that they were between six and 12 years old. 

Three suspects were arrested over the blast in a poor neighbourhood in the north of the city, which sparked an outpouring of emotion on social media.

A witness said at least three of the injured children were in "a serious condition", adding that there was speculation that "the children were playing with a grenade without knowing what it was."

Nkurikiye said the grenade exploded between the hair salon and a shop.

Grenade attacks are frequent in Burundi, killing dozens each year, and are often related to interpersonal or political disputes.