Tanzania: Muslim and Christian leaders to hold meeting after attack on church

Christian and Muslim religious leaders are planning to hold a meeting this week in an effort to reduce religious tensions after a church bombing on Sunday left two people dead and many injured.

The Papal Nuncio to Tanzania, Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, and Arusha Diocesan Bishop Josaphat Lebulu, were among the clergy about to celebrate Mass at St Joseph Mfanyakazi Roman Catholic Church in Arusha when the attack occurred. They were not among the injured.

A church spokesman said: "We need to have precise information before expressing ourselves about what happened, because the situation is very delicate."

He stressed that although there had been some violent incidents in recent months in Tanzania, "with possible religious motivations", it was not possible to say what the reason was for this attack.

"In general we can say that the local Muslim leadership is opposed to violence, and that those who commit the attacks are mostly extremist groups who come from outside of Tanzania," he said.

Local police said they have arrested six people, four of which are Saudi nationals, in connection with the bombing.

See also: ICN 6 May 2013 Tanzania: church bombing leaves one woman dead, many injured

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Source: Fides