Twenty suspects appear in court following attack on Ethiopian PM

Ethiopians attend a rally in support of the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa

Ethiopians attend a rally in support of the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa

Published Jun 26, 2018

Share

JOHANNESBURG - Twenty people appeared in court in the Ethiopian capital on Monday following a grenade attack at a rally for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in which two people were killed and scores wounded, Reuters reported. 

The attack was launched by an unidentified assailant moments after the 41-year-old prime minister, a former soldier who took office in April, finished his speech to tens of thousands of people gathered in the centre of Addis Ababa on Saturday.

A witness saw Abiy whisked away by guards.

Addressing the nation on television shortly after the blast and still wearing a green t-shirt he was handed at the rally, Abiy said the attack was an "attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united."

State-affiliated Fana reported that those in court included Girma Kassa, deputy police commissioner for the capital. 

He is among nine police officials arrested.

African News Agency (ANA) and Reuters

Related Topics: