Authorities in Bor County say a grenade attack at Bor town river port on Monday evening left one person dead and eight others injured.

Bor County Commissioner Ateny Pech Ariik said the incident happened at around 7 p.m. at Nyok Agany Riverside, a busy crossing point linking Bor with parts of Lakes State and other areas in Jonglei.

According to the commissioner, the suspect has been identified as Riak, a soldier serving in Division Eight of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

“The attacker is called Riak and is from military background, he is a soldier in Division 8,” Ateny said.

He explained that the suspect allegedly hurled a hand grenade into a crowd gathered at the port, killing one person instantly and wounding eight others.

“There was an attack yesterday at the town where one soldier with a bomb of grenade threw it on the population and it wounded around eight and killed one person in Nyok Agany Riverside,” he said.

Commissioner Ateny further claimed that the suspect has a history of drug and alcohol abuse and may be mentally unstable.

“The man ran away; his mind is not that stable. The man used to take some drugs, so he is not stable in his mental ability,” he stated.

The suspect fled immediately after the explosion and remained at large by Tuesday morning.

“I don’t know up to now whether he’s arrested, but since yesterday he’s not arrested. Up to this morning he’s not arrested,” Ateny added.

Authorities say security personnel are continuing with the search for the suspect.

Following the attack, the commissioner urged residents of Bor town to avoid staying out late, warning that most crimes in the area occur during evening hours.

“It’s always advisable that when it is almost going to six, people have to disperse from the town and go home,” he said. “The crime of the town always happens at the evening hours. So, I advise everyone to settle home at around six.”