Recommended

Suspects Arrested For Attacks On Zanzibar Churches

Police on the small, predominately Muslim island of Zanzibar off the Tanzanian coast have stepped up investigations and arrested three suspects after the recent spate of violence in mid October

Police on the small, predominately Muslim island of Zanzibar off the Tanzanian coast have stepped up investigations and arrested three suspects after two Catholic churches were destroyed and a small Protestant church was set ablaze in the recent spate of violence in mid October.

During the week of Oct. 17-23, three churches were attacked in Zanzibar. In the first attack, a Lutheran Church was set on fire earlier in the week. In the following attacks, which hit the Catholic Christian community, the wall of a Roman Catholic Church was destroyed and another was set on fire.

According to Roman Catholic Bishop Augustine Shao, it was not clear who had carried out the attacks. However, with the rising religious and political tension on the island, suspicion fell on Muslim extremists who some observers say may be seeking to drive from the archipelago people from mainland Tanzania before presidential and legislative elections expected at the end of next year. The last elections, in 2000, were marred by voter intimidation, politically motivated violence and other irregularities.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Sources say the three suspects arrested so far were brought before the Unguja Resident Magistrate

Was this article helpful?

Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone.

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage.