Several explosions have occurred in Zanzibar, as Police have launched a manhunt on Tuesday (February 25th) for people suspected of making the explosives that targeted two churches and a tourist restaurant in Stone Town.
Information received from Tanzania said that on Monday 24, February, one blast took place at the Anglican cathedral, a historic building in the heart of the narrow and winding streets of Stone Town, slightly damaging a wall and a car parked near the gate. The other blast occurred at Mercury, a seafront restaurant and bar popular with tourists.
Another report said that on Sunday, explosion was also reported at the Assemblies of God Church at Kijitoupele in which an unidentified person threw a purportedly homemade grenade inside the church as prayers were in progress. No casualty was reported.
"Fortunately the device fell in an empty place during Sunday mass. There was panic before police detectives arrived and took away the remains," eyewitness reported adding that "Nobody was injured."
Police reports said that it is suspected that the blasts were caused by homemade bombs that were thrown by unidentified thugs. However, investigations continue to find out details of the blasts and the motive behind them.
"We are hunting for people behind these incidents," said Zanzibar Police Commissioner Hamdan Omar Makame adding that "We shall get them and ask members of the public to help search for the thugs who have caused unnecessary panic in Zanzibar."
The Indian Ocean islands are a growing headache for the Tanzanian government because of religious tensions and deep social and economic divisions.
Last year there were several attacks on Church leaders and structures and some targeted tourists.
In September 2013, a Roman Catholic priest was the target of an acid attack, while a month earlier two men threw a corrosive liquid over two British teenagers in Zanzibar.
SOURCE: TEC Communications Office and News Agencies
