Arrests made as death toll rises in Ethiopia attack

THE death toll from a grenade attack on a pro-government rally in Ethiopia’s capital climbed to two on Sunday, a cabinet minister said, as police announced arrests over the blast.

“I’m so sorry to learn that we have lost another Ethiopian victim of yesterday’s attack,” Health Minister Amir Aman tweeted.

“My sincere sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and all Ethiopians.”

The blast occurred in a packed public square as Ethiopia’s new prime minister Abiy Ahmed was wrapping up a speech before tens of thousands of people.

The ensuing chaos injured more than 150 people and marred an event meant to build public support for Abiy’s ambitious reform agenda.

The state-run Ethiopian News Agency reported police had arrested six people suspected of involvement in the blast, but gave few details. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Abiy took office in April after years of anti-government unrest that pushed his predecessor to resign and the government to declare a nationwide state of emergency. He since announced plans to liberalise the economy and reconcile with neighbouring arch-enemy Eritrea.

Abiy also lifted the state of emergency and released scores of jailed dissidents.

Ethiopia is completely controlled by the secretive Ethiopia People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, and its unclear how much support Abiy has within the party. The 42-year-old former government minister and army officer is the first prime minister in modern Ethiopia from the country’s largest ethnicity the Oromo, which spearheaded the anti-government protests.

In an address broadcast afterwards on state television, Abiy said the incident was orchestrated by groups who wanted to undermine the rally, but he 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.”

Event organiser Seyoum Teshome said he watched from the stage as a scuffle broke out when someone tried to hurl a grenade towards the platform just as Abiy had sat down.

“Four or more police, they jumped on him and during that scuffle the grenade went off,” Seyoum said.

Thousands of people in Meskel Square rushed the stage as Abiy made a hasty getaway.

“Most of them were injured but not due to the grenade, but rather it was the stampede, it was just running away from that spot,” Seyoum said.

YONAS TADESE/AFP Ethiopian security forces intervene on Saturday in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, where a blast killed two people during a rally called by the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

MARVIN RECINOS/AFP A student protects himself with a makeshift shield in the face of ongoing attacks from riot police and members of the Sandinista Youth at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua in Managua on Saturday.