30 arrested over Ethiopia’s grenade attack
not occur,” said Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow reporting from Addis Ababa.
Six other suspects were also being held over links to the attack, but no group had claimed responsibility for the blast.
In an address broadcast afterwards on state television, Prime Minister Abiy said the blast was orchestrated by groups who wanted to undermine the rally but did not name them.
“The people who did this are anti-peace forces. You need to stop doing this. You weren’t successful in the past and you won’t be successful in the future.”
The blast has sent shockwaves across the country as the new prime minister, who enjoys a lot of political support, especially among the younger generation, seeks to enforce his reformist agenda.
Since assuming office in April, PM Abiy has introduced a number of reforms and has overseen the release of jailed dissidents and moved to liberalise the economy.
He has also made peace overtures with aggrieved opposition groups, as well as neighbouring Eritrea.
“Abiy’s effort to move the country forward has angered those who for a very long time maintained a stronghold on the country’s politics and economy,” Moha m med Ademo, pol it ic a l commentator and founder of OPride.com, Hundreds of thousands of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s supporters at a rally in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Saturday where an assassination attempt on the was made as an attacker lobbed a grenade towards him. Two people died and dozens were injured. — an independent news website on Ethiopia, told Al Jazeera.
“They are trying to scare people and undermine the prime minister so they can send a signal that he is not capable of stabilising the country,” Ademo added.
“Many Ethiopians are shocked that people would go to such lengths to stop what they see as a really positive move – the reforms they say this country really needs,” said Al Jazeera’s Adow.
The Ethiopian grenade attack happened hours before a bomb exploded at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, soon after President Mnangagwa who is also the Zanu-PF presidential candidate in the July 30 harmonised election had finished addressing thousands of jubilant supporters. The bomb exploded as President Mnangagwa, his Vice Presidents and other senior members of the ruling Zanu-PF party were leaving the stage. At least 49 people were injured. — Addis Standard/Al-Jazeera/ Herald Reporter.