Woman injured as blast hits church premises in Mwanza

THE bomb blast on Monday night at the Iman East Lake Victoria Parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) on Airport Road here seriously injured a maid at its rest house, Ms Bernadette Alfred.

According to ELCT’s Secretary, Mr Rogart Mollel, an explosive device that was wrapped in a plastic bag was abandoned at the rest house’s corridor.

“It is wonderful and God is really great," he told reporters, "For the past three days, Bernadette had wanted to collect the abandoned luggage but was hesitant.

She eventually picked it up on Monday and opened it when the bomb went off, seriously injuring her. Ms Alfred, who was rushed to Bugando Medical Centre, suffered serious injuries on her legs and face.

Mr Mollel told reporters that it was difficult at this point in time to suspect anyone in connection with the criminal act because many people came in and left despite the reinforced security at the church gates.

“This event has puzzled and confused us – making us recall similar bombings that targeted churches in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Arusha and now in Mwanza. ‘’I don’t know what the intention of the blast was,” he wondered.

A security guard at the church, Mr Charles Mathayo, said that he arrived at his sentry post at 18:00 pm. At 2:00 pm, he reported hearing a booming sound from the direction of the rest house and when he rushed there he saw Ms Alfred helplessly lying down and crying in agony.

‘’When I saw Bernadette also bleeding profusely, I shouted for help, which I got after people came rushing to the scene. The police also arrived and immediately started investigations.

An eyewitness, who was one of the occupants in the rest house, Ms Elina Emmanuel, said that she was busy somewhere when she suddenly heard the sound of the blast. She encountered a heavy smoke as other rest house tenants got off their rooms and rushed for cover.

The Mwanza Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Valentine Mulowola, later confirmed the incident to reporters, saying the bomb was ‘home made.’

He called on the public to report to the police when they come across suspicious objects in their surroundings.

He said that when a person sees something that is abnormal, he or she should take precaution and keep away from such objects until the police arrive at the scene.

A doctor at Bugando, whose name was not immediately obtained, confirmed receiving a bomb victim at the medical centre, but did not allow reporters to see her, since her condition was still critical and was kept in an emergency ward where she could not even talk.

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