Maputo - Mozambican police announced Friday the killing, in a shootout, of Custodio Luis de Jesus, also known as "Todinho", who recently escaped from a maximum security jail with the convicted killer of investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso.

Todinho was believed to have been one of those responsible for a recent series of attacks on police, including the killing of the head of police in Maputo Feliciano Juvane last December.

Juvane, director of order and security at the Maputo City Police Command, was ambushed by two men outside his home in a suburb of the city. One of the two was believed to have been Todinho.

When he escaped from jail last December, Todinho was serving time for the murder of a policeman and a prison director. (dpa)