Friday, May 11, 2012

Tanzanian Police probing church bombing threats in Dar Es Salaam


Director of Criminal Investigations Robert Manumba

Police said yesterday they would launch immediate investigations into threats by a suspected terrorist group to blow up a Dar es Salaam church.

Director of Criminal Investigations Robert Manumba made remarks to that effect in a telephone interview with this paper, which had shortly earlier received a copy of a three-page written statement apparently prepared and circulated by a suspected terrorist group giving Tanga as its base.

The group, which identified itself as ‘Al-Shabaab Tanzania’, threatened to attack Efatha Life Ministry structures at Mwenge “any time from now”.

“And we will make sure that EFATHA buildings are reduced to a playing ground...with nothing on it,” said the statement, which bore the signature of a “representative” who sought strict anonymity.

The group warned the church’s faithful to spare their lives by not attending prayers or conducting any other activities, including banking, in the said compound.