ETHIOPIA: 9 policemen arrested in connection with grenade attack at rally for Prime Minister

Authorities in Ethiopia have arrested no less than nine police officers in connection with a grenade attack which occurred during a rally for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa.

Reports say the police officials were held for security lapse after the explosion during the rally which killed one person and injured several others.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Amir Aman has confirmed that one of the injured victims died increasing the death toll arising from the blast to two.

Read also: Trump make U-turn on separation of migrant families

Aman also revealed that no less than 156 victims were wounded following Saturday’s attack.

“I’m so sorry to learn that we have lost another Ethiopian victim of yesterday’s attack who was in ICU at Black Lion Hospital,” Aman said on Twitter. “My sincere sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and all Ethiopians.”

The Ethiopian Prime Minister had just wrapped up his speech at the capital’s Meskel Square before tens of thousands of people on Saturday when the grenade exploded.

The explosion which sent droves of supporters towards the stage as the prime minister left hurriedly saw the wounding of scores of people with most of them said to be in critical condition.

Reacting to the grenade attack, Abiy said the blast was orchestrated by groups who wanted to undermine the rally but did not name them.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now