Terrorists have attacked a key Mozambique port town near a major international gas hub early on Monday and beheaded several civilians, locals reported.

It was the second attack this month on Mocimboa da Praia, which is around 80 kilometres south of a stalled major liquefied natural gas project.

The attackers entered in the early hours of the morning and forced a resident to go from house to house, calling out names of certain people, a local military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"As soon as they emerged, they were beheaded," he said, adding three civilians were killed this way. "At least three terrorists were killed by a hunter living in the neighbourhood," he said.

Several abducted

One local told AFP that four civilian men were beheaded and an expectant woman was shot, dying later in hospital.

"In addition to killing these five people, they kidnapped several people," another local said, also anonymously.

The town is in the northern Cabo Delgado province, which adjoins Tanzania, and terrorists have been active in the area since 2017. More than 6,200 people have been killed in the violence since then, according to conflict monitor ACLED.

Terrorists also attacked the town on September 7 when they beheaded four civilians, according to locals.

Fuel and gas operations stall

Mocimboa da Praia was previously a landing port for fuel, cars, tractors and other equipment for companies operating in the gas hub near the town of Palma.

The project has been stalled since terrorists struck Palma in March 2021. More than 800 people were killed, according to an ACLED toll.