May 5, 2013

Tanzania Church Hit By Deadly Blast

An explosion at a crowded church in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha has killed at least three people, a local priest has told the BBC.

More than 50 others were injured in the blast. Police say they believe it was caused by a bomb.

The explosion occurred at the official opening of the new Roman Catholic church in the suburb of Olasiti.

The Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania and the archbishop of Arusha were attending, but were not hurt.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident, police say.

An eyewitnesses told AFP news agency: "There was a stampede, people running in all directions, walking on each other, children were screaming and women crying."

Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said in Twitter message he was "greatly shocked" by the attack.

Tanzania has seen a rise in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims in recent times.

Last month, police in southern Tanzania used teargas to disperse about 200 Christian rioters attempting to torch a mosque over an animal slaughtering conflict.

In February, a Catholic priest was shot in the head on the largely Muslim island of Zanzibar.

Source: BBC News

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