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Tanzania church attack: Saudis held for 'act of terror' Tanzania church attack: Saudis held for 'act of terror'
(about 11 hours later)
Eight people - including four Saudi nationals - 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 - four Saudi nationals and four Tanzanians - have been arrested in connection with the bombing of a new Roman Catholic church in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha on Sunday.
President Jakaya Kikwete condemned the blast as an "act of terrorism". The Saudis were detained as they tried to cross into Kenya, police said.
No group has said it was behind the explosion, which left at least 50 people wounded. At least two people were killed by the blast, which President Jakaya Kikwete condemned as "act of terrorism".
Militant attacks are relatively rare in Tanzania, unlike neighbouring Kenya and Somalia. The Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania and the archbishop of Arusha were in the church at the time of the attack.
Al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombers killed more than 200 people in simultaneous attacks in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. Archbishops Francisco Montecillo Padilla and Josaphat Louis Lebulu escaped unharmed.
Tanzania has seen a rise in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims in the past year. No group has said it carried out Sunday's bombing, in which dozens of people were wounded.
There are no official records of religious affiliation in Tanzania so it is not clear whether Muslims or Christians form the majority. However, suicide bombers linked to al-Qaeda killed 11 people in an attack on the US embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998. A simultaneous attack in Nairobi killed 212 others.
Arusha regional police commissioner Liberatus Sabas told the BBC that eight people - four Saudis and four Tanzanians - had been arrested, as investigations continue into the blast. Sectarian violence
The explosion occurred at the official opening of the new Roman Catholic church in the suburb of Olasiti in Arusha, which is mainly Christian. Sunday's bombing occurred during the inaugural Mass at St Joseph's Roman Catholic church in Olasti, a suburb of Arusha which is predominantly Christian.
The Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania and the archbishop of Arusha were attending, but were not hurt. On Monday, Internal Affairs Minister Emmanuel Nchimbi told parliament that police and army experts had been examining the scene.
Eyewitnesses said a bomb had been thrown from a motorcycle, AP news agency reports. "Preliminary investigations show that the bomb was thrown into the church compound, but we don't know its nature," he said, adding that there were "indications that more people are involved".
The attack happened despite heavy security presence in the area. "We must protect national unity, peace and tranquillity of our country at any costs," he added.
Mr Kikwete said he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the blast. Arusha Regional Commissioner Magesa Mulongo said the Saudis had flown into an airport near Arusha on Saturday. They were detained late on Sunday while trying to cross the border with Kenya, he added.
President Kikwete said he was "shocked and deeply saddened".
"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.
Tanzania has seen a rise in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims in the past year.
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.
There are no official records of religious affiliation in Tanzania so it is not clear whether Muslims or Christians form the majority.