"The two young people had planted bombs not far from the Gao river police. They were ready to set them off remotely when they were surprised by Gao residents who burned them," a security source in the city told AFP.
A source inside the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Gao added that "no one could intervene" because of the angry mob was so determined to kill the youths and burn their bodies.
Photos were circulated on social media showing the two burnt bodies.