DODOMA, Tanzania — Fear and grief rocked a predominantly Christian area of northern Tanzania on May 5 after an explosion at the inaugural mass of a new church building, killing two worshippers and injuring more than 40 people.
The explosion at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church occurred before 11 a.m. when an unidentified man on a motorcycle reportedly hurled an explosive device over the church fence. Worshippers were packed into the new church building when the explosion went off, the source said. Police reportedly said four Saudi Arabian nationals and two Tanzanian citizens had been arrested, including the driver of the motorcycle. Officials urged calm in the face of furious residents. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Terrorist groups have not been active in Tanzania since the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in 1998, but President Jakaya Kikwete called Sunday’s explosion a terrorist attack. Previously police had warned of possible violence by Al Qaeda that could include involvement of its Somalia-based partner, Al Shabaab, the source said. At the same time, some area residents believe elements bent on creating religious conflict were behind the explosion, he added. With a population that is 34.2 percent Muslim, Tanzania is 54 percent Christian; most of the rest of religious adherents hold ethnic tribal beliefs, according to Operation World.
Share with others: