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Tanzania church attack: Saudis held for 'act of terror' | Tanzania church attack: Saudis held for 'act of terror' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Eight people - including four of Saudi origin - have been arrested over an explosion that killed two people at a church in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha on Sunday, police say. | Eight people - including four of Saudi origin - have been arrested over an explosion that killed two people at a church in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha on Sunday, police say. |
President Jakaya Kikwete condemned the blast as an "act of terrorism". | President Jakaya Kikwete condemned the blast as an "act of terrorism". |
No group has said it was behind the explosion, which left at least 50 people wounded. | No group has said it was behind the explosion, which left at least 50 people wounded. |
Militant attacks are relatively rare in Tanzania, unlike neighbouring Kenya and Somalia. | Militant attacks are relatively rare in Tanzania, unlike neighbouring Kenya and Somalia. |
Al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombers killed more than 200 people in simultaneous attacks in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. | Al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombers killed more than 200 people in simultaneous attacks in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. |
Tanzania has seen a rise in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims in the past year. | Tanzania has seen a rise in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims in the past year. |
There are no official records of religious affiliation in Tanzania so it is not clear whether Muslims or Christians form the majority. | There are no official records of religious affiliation in Tanzania so it is not clear whether Muslims or Christians form the majority. |
Arusha regional police commissioner Liberatus Sabas told the BBC that eight people - four of Saudi origin and four of Tanzanian origin - had been arrested, as investigations continue into the blast. | |
Two of the Tanzanians were Christians, while the four Saudis had arrived at Arusha airport a day before the blast, another police official, Magesa Mulongo, said, AFP news agency reports. | |
The explosion occurred at the official opening of the new Roman Catholic church in the suburb of Olasiti in Arusha, which is mainly Christian. | The explosion occurred at the official opening of the new Roman Catholic church in the suburb of Olasiti in Arusha, which is mainly Christian. |
The Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania and the archbishop of Arusha were attending, but were not hurt. | The Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania and the archbishop of Arusha were attending, but were not hurt. |
Eyewitnesses said a bomb had been thrown from a motorcycle, AP news agency reports. | Eyewitnesses said a bomb had been thrown from a motorcycle, AP news agency reports. |
The attack happened despite heavy security presence in the area. | The attack happened despite heavy security presence in the area. |
Mr Kikwete said he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the blast. | Mr Kikwete said he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the blast. |
"We are ready to deal with all criminals, including terrorists and their agents, who are based in the country or externally," he added. | "We are ready to deal with all criminals, including terrorists and their agents, who are based in the country or externally," he added. |
Last month, police in southern Tanzania used teargas to disperse about 200 Christian rioters attempting to set fire to a mosque following a dispute over animal slaughtering. | Last month, police in southern Tanzania used teargas to disperse about 200 Christian rioters attempting to set fire to a mosque following a dispute over animal slaughtering. |
In February, a Catholic priest was shot in the head on the largely Muslim island of Zanzibar. | In February, a Catholic priest was shot in the head on the largely Muslim island of Zanzibar. |
Last year Muslim cleric Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda was arrested over attacks on churches, following rumours that a Christian boy had urinated on a copy of the Koran. | Last year Muslim cleric Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda was arrested over attacks on churches, following rumours that a Christian boy had urinated on a copy of the Koran. |