Story of a man who narrowly escaped lynching by a Burundi mob

Violence hit Burundi's capital again on Thursday and one man in particular narrowly escaped being killed by a mob, and he had to dive into a sewer to survive.

Violence hit Burundi's capital again on Thursday and one man in particular narrowly escaped being killed by a mob, and he had to dive into a sewer to survive.

Niyonzima-kept-trying-to-escape-He-was-chased-through-a-courtyard-and-found-himself-cornered-between-two-buildings-Bleeding-from-his-head-he-begged-for-his-life-AFP-Photo

Protesters were angry at attacks by the Imbonerakure, the feared youth wing of the ruling party, on those demonstrating against the decision by Burundi's president to run for a third term. The protesters decided to retaliate.

The crowd walked the streets of a neighborhood, telling people to join the protest or else. Some joined; a few ran away.

They reached the house of a man identified as Jean Claude Niyonzima, and by then they were a mob. They believed him to be a member of the Imbonerakure. What followed next is best told by these pictures:

They grabbed him and attacked Niyonzima (C) with sticks and stones. Some protesters had knives and machetes, but apparently did not use them.

Niyonzima kept trying to escape. While a woman can be seen screaming at some in the mob.

Cornered and bleeding Niyonzima begged for his life

He finally got away and fled into the wide sewer under a hail of stones, and he sought shelter under a boarded section.

Some members of the mob tried to go after him and sought to flush him out.

Soldiers, who have been acting as a buffer between protesters and the police for days, showed up.

Soldiers dispersed the mob

Shirtless, he sat on the ground next to a wall under the soldiers' protection.

Soldiers seen pulling out another man who had been wounded by the mob

(All images from AP)