British woman rescued in Malawi shootout that left four suspected kidnappers dead
Police exchanged fire with the suspected kidnappers, who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol.
**British woman rescued in Malawi shootout that left four suspected kidnappers dead**
**Nusrat Osman was taken to hospital for treatment after the rescue**
A British woman abducted in Malawi almost a week ago has been rescued in a police operation that left four suspected kidnappers dead and injured a senior police chief.
Nusrat Osman, 47, was freed on Thursday during an operation on the outskirts of Blantyre, in southern Malawi, police said.
Officers traded gunfire with the suspected kidnappers, whom police said were carrying an AK-47 rifle and a pistol.
"The criminals got shot and were rushed to the hospital where they succumbed to the injuries," the Malawi Police Service said in a statement.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira, who took part in the operation, also suffered gunshot wounds and is being treated in hospital. Police said in their statement that he was in a stable condition.
Following the rescue, Osman was reunited with her family and was also taken to hospital for treatment and for physical and mental health assessments, local media reported.
Police have not named the four suspected kidnappers who were killed and have not given further details on how officers tracked down the group.
Osman was abducted by four unidentified men in Blantyre's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on 11 September.
Police said she was driving home when the men blocked her vehicle, forced her into another car and drove off.
Her disappearance triggered a major search operation, with authorities offering a reward of 30 million Malawian kwacha ($17,000; £12,500) for information leading to her rescue and the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Osman, who is from Leicester in the UK, has lived in Malawi for several years and works for an auditing firm. She is married and has two young children.
The UK Foreign Office earlier told the BBC that it was aware of reports that a British national had been abducted in Malawi and was in contact with local authorities.
The case had baffled investigators because police said there had been no known ransom demand or communication from the kidnappers after her disappearance.
Her family had made emotional public appeals for her safe return, describing the disappearance as deeply distressing and urging anyone with information to contact police.
The kidnapping also raised concern among Malawi's business community and British nationals living in the southern African country, where abductions of foreign nationals are relatively uncommon.
Police have not revealed a possible motive or said whether they believe other people were involved.
They said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the kidnapping and the later rescue operation.
Authorities have urged the public to stay calm while the investigation continues.