Mozambique saw its first jihadist attack last October when a group of young men stormed a police and military post in a port town. Two officers and fourteen attackers were killed. This incident was followed by more armed incidents and kidnappings. Seven months later, the deadly attack still haunts local residents, as authorities struggle to ensure social stability in the area.

This mound of rubble in Mocimboa de Praia, in the extreme north of Mozambique, was once a mosque. But it was demolished by the government after an attack in October, attributed to a group of young men who are believed to have frequented it. Around thirty of them stormed a police post and an army garrison. Two police officers were killed and as many as 14 attackers struck down in the counter-assault.

USSENE AMISSE ISLAMIC TEACHER "Before, they were like us, they prayed like us. Then as soon as they started listening to those tapes from Somalia, they began to call themselves al-Shabaab."

The apparent jihadist assault provoked a backlash among Mozambicans who are still recovering from a long civil war. Authorities said there was no proof of a link to Somalia's al-Shabaab militants -- or any other known jihadist group.But it was found that several of the young attackers had regularly visited Tanzania, Sudan or Somalia where they were allegedly radicalised.

AMADI MBONI MUSLIM LEADER "Initially we tried to warn the authorities, but we couldn't stop them."

Many young people in this poverty-stricken region have been radicalised by Islamist extremists who ban their followers from voting or sending their children to school, and encourage them to fight the state. At least 300 people were arrested following the attack and several mosques closed. Roadblocks remain in place in surrounding villages where some of the attackers are believed to be hiding -- and villagers say attacks and kidnappings are continuing.

MOMADI MFAOUME MOCIMBOA RESIDENT "My wife was kidnapped while we were fleeing and then they shot at me, two rounds, which passed close by me."

The authorities are seeking to reassure locals that the threat has diminished, and say they have no record of kidnappings. But for the villagers here, a threat remains, at least until all the attackers are behind bars.