New York, December 14 (RHC)-- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an investigation into the fresh outbreak of violence in Burundi that led to the deaths of 87 people. The international rights body’s researcher for Burundi, Carina Tertsakian, said in a statement on Sunday that a “serious, independent investigation is urgently needed to find out the exact circumstances in which these people were killed."

"This is by far the most serious incident, with the highest number of victims, since the start of the crisis in April," Tertsakian noted. She also said that due to “politicization and corruption in the Burundian justice system, outside experts should be brought in to assist.”

Burundi’s army said 87 people were killed after three military installations in the capital Bujumbura were attacked on Friday. The violence began after unknown gunmen attacked the military sites, drawing a response from the security forces. Local residents said security forces went to opposition areas in the capital and dragged people out and killed them.

Human Rights Watch said the attack on the military installations was a serious issue and the government was responsible for restoring law and order to the country, but the dead bodies should not have been removed before investigations were carried out.

“Going out and shooting people in residential neighborhoods appears entirely unjustified, and the members of the security forces responsible should be held to account," the rights organization added.