Hundreds injured in attack at Ethiopia rally

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — A thwarted attempt to hurl a grenade at Ethiopia’s reformist new prime minister led to a deadly explosion Saturday at a massive rally in support of sweeping changes in Africa’s second-most-populous country. At least one person was killed and 155 people were hurt, nine critically, Health Minister Amir Aman said.

Nine police officials were arrested, state media reported.

Witnesses said a man tried to throw the grenade at the stage as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed waved to the cheering crowd of tens of thousands shortly after he made a strong appeal for unity following months of anti-government protests.

Addressing the nation minutes after he was rushed to safety, Abiy called the blast a “wellorchestrated attack” but one that failed. He did not lay blame and said police were investigating.

“The prime minister was the target,” a rally organizer, Seyoum Teshome, said. “An individual tried to hurl the grenade toward a stage where the prime minister was sitting but was held back by the crowd.”

The man with the grenade was wearing a police uniform, witness Abraham Tilahun said. Police officers nearby quickly restrained him, Tilahun said. “Then we heard the explosion.”

Of the nine police officials arrested, one was the deputy head of the capital’s police commission, state broadcaster ETV reported.

The attack was “cheap and unacceptable,” the prime minister said, and added: “Love always wins. Killing others is a defeat. To those who tried to divide us, I want to tell you that you have not succeeded.”

In a statement, the ruling party blamed “desperate anti-peace elements.”