TANZANIA: Bomb blast at Catholic Church: The Apostolic Nuncio unharmed
The Vatican ambassador to Tanzania, Archbishop Francisco
Montecillo Padilla, escaped unharmed yesterday in a suspected grenade attack as
he was about to consecrate the new church building of St Joseph Parish at
Olasiti area in Arusha City.
Montecillo Padilla, escaped unharmed yesterday in a suspected grenade attack as
he was about to consecrate the new church building of St Joseph Parish at
Olasiti area in Arusha City.
Ambassador Padilla, accompanied by the archbishop of
Arusha Josephat Lebulu who was also unhurt, was whisked away by police officers
without officiating the opening of the church.
Arusha Josephat Lebulu who was also unhurt, was whisked away by police officers
without officiating the opening of the church.
Eye witnesses said that the blast occurred few metres
from where the Philippines-born Archbishop Padilla, who was appointed to
Tanzania by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, was standing in front of the church’s
entrance, ready to cut the tape to officially open the church.
from where the Philippines-born Archbishop Padilla, who was appointed to
Tanzania by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, was standing in front of the church’s
entrance, ready to cut the tape to officially open the church.
Before coming to Tanzania Archbishop Padilla, 60, was
Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He was ordained
priest on October 21, 1976 and Bishop on May 23, 2006.
Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He was ordained
priest on October 21, 1976 and Bishop on May 23, 2006.
Meanwhile, Arusha Regional commissioner, Mr Magesa
Mulongo and the Chief Physician of Mount Meru Hospital, Dr Frida Mokiti, named
the deceased from the blast as Ms Regina Losyoki, a choir member of the St
Joseph Parish at Olasiti. Her body was taken to hospital for preservation at
13pm. Other 60 people were admitted to various hospitals in the city for
injuries and shock.
Mulongo and the Chief Physician of Mount Meru Hospital, Dr Frida Mokiti, named
the deceased from the blast as Ms Regina Losyoki, a choir member of the St
Joseph Parish at Olasiti. Her body was taken to hospital for preservation at
13pm. Other 60 people were admitted to various hospitals in the city for
injuries and shock.
In another development, a survey in Arusha witnessed
believers vacating churches. In what was connected with insecurity and people’s
fear, many churches that had services in the morning and early afternoon were
seen half empty.
believers vacating churches. In what was connected with insecurity and people’s
fear, many churches that had services in the morning and early afternoon were
seen half empty.
Father Moses Mwaniki, who was assisting Archbishop
Padilla, said he saw the grenade being thrown to the direction of the Nuncio,
but it fell behind the back of a church member and exploded.
Padilla, said he saw the grenade being thrown to the direction of the Nuncio,
but it fell behind the back of a church member and exploded.
“It really seems Archbishop Padilla was targeted in the
attack,” Fr Mwaniki told Mwananchi, The Citizen’s sister paper. Police are
interrogating one person in connection with the incident.
attack,” Fr Mwaniki told Mwananchi, The Citizen’s sister paper. Police are
interrogating one person in connection with the incident.
As hundreds milled around the Catholic Church premises
after the grenade attack, experts busy collecting various samples, Mr Philemon
Mushi, was but a shocked man.
after the grenade attack, experts busy collecting various samples, Mr Philemon
Mushi, was but a shocked man.
“It is a great tragedy. We don’t know who has done this
and the motive behind,” Mr Mushi, a senior research scientist with Arusha-based
Selian Agricultural Research Institute, told The Citizen as he leaned against
the wall of the church. He is the chairman of the parish for which the new
church had been built.
and the motive behind,” Mr Mushi, a senior research scientist with Arusha-based
Selian Agricultural Research Institute, told The Citizen as he leaned against
the wall of the church. He is the chairman of the parish for which the new
church had been built.
Apparently it had taken him and other church officials
long time to have the building constructed after raising millions of shillings
from well wishers in Arusha and beyond.
long time to have the building constructed after raising millions of shillings
from well wishers in Arusha and beyond.
Although the church building was not blasted, the impact
of what bomb experts and other security officials say was a grenade attack, it
was devastating.
of what bomb experts and other security officials say was a grenade attack, it
was devastating.
“It has taken us months to prepare for this event. We had
invited between 3,000 and 4,000 guests for a luncheon. Now don’t know what to
do,” he said.
invited between 3,000 and 4,000 guests for a luncheon. Now don’t know what to
do,” he said.
However, he was emphatic there were some policemen in
charge of the security in the area, especially given the presence of the
Vatican Ambassador to Tanzania Franciso Padello “as the normal protocol
demands”.
charge of the security in the area, especially given the presence of the
Vatican Ambassador to Tanzania Franciso Padello “as the normal protocol
demands”.
SOURCE:
The Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania
The Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania
