19 people lost their lives and 21 are injured and are still being treated at Ikongo hospital in Madagascar's southeast, the national police said in a statement after what seemed like a lynch mob attack that was angered by the kidnapping of an albino child.

According to an official speaking under the condition of anonymity to AFP, approximately 500 protesters carrying blades and machetes allegedly attempted to force their way into a police station in Ikongo, 350 kilometers from the capital Antananarivo.

Residents of the town had calmed by Tuesday, but additional officers were also sent to the region "in order to keep the peace". Police stated that an investigation into the violent incident was ongoing while they also offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

National police chief Andry Rakotondrazaka expressed in defense of the police on Monday that they had done everything they could to avoid confrontation but eventually had no choice but to resort to self-defense. 

Some sub-Saharan African countries have suffered a wave of assaults against people with albinism, whose body parts are sought for witchcraft practices in the mistaken belief that they bring luck and wealth.