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Tanzania: At least 30 injured in suspected bomb blast in Church attack in northern city of Arusha
“Religious fundamentalism is a reality in this country, but the government does nothing,” he said angrily outside the church, as police cordoned off the area and ordered people away from the building.
The blast took place outside a Roman Catholic church in Arusha, a town popular with tourists visiting the nearby Serengeti national park and snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro.
The newly built church, in the Olasti district on the outskirts of Arusha town, was celebrating its first ever mass when the blast took place, and people were squeezed into the church building as well as sitting on benches outside.
“When it exploded there was a stampede, people running in all directions, walking on each other, children were screaming and women crying,” said Viviana, who was helped out of the church by her son.”I saw a dead woman trampled, I think even her two children were killed in the same way,” said a woman, who gave her name only as Mariana.
Local reporters said that several wounded people were taken to hospital, and that police had closed off roads around the church.
“There were so many people, the church was full, and the faithful were sitting on benches outside – it was a great day of celebration,” said Jacob, a motorcycle taxi driver, who had been at the mass.
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said in a message on Twitter that he was “greatly shocked” at the news of the blast.
