Tanzania: nuncio describes bomb attack during church dedication
May 08, 2013
The apostolic nuncio to Tanzania has offered his eyewitness account of the May 5 bomb attack at the dedication of a parish in Olasiti, a town of 12,000 in northern Tanzania.
“The Archbishop of Arusha and I, surrounded by a crowd of faithful, were in the churchyard,” recounted Archbishop Francisco Padilla. “We had just blessed the water that was to be sprinkled on the faithful and the place of worship, when the bomb exploded a few meters from us. I did not see who threw the bomb, because there were many faithful.”
“The Prime Minister of Tanzania has [assured] the Archbishop of Arusha that all the efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice will be made,” added Archbishop Padilla, who returned to the region to comfort the injured. “The faithful are in a state of shock, and I am in town specifically to be close to the Catholic community.”
The death toll has risen to three; 60 people were injured.
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Further information:
- Attack in Arusha: the testimony of the Apostolic Nuncio to Fides (Fides)
- Bomb explodes at dedication of Tanzanian church; nuncio, archbishop present (CWN, 5/6)
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