Suspects linked to Woolworths bombs arrested

BY LATE last night, police had arrested 18 suspects who are believed to be part of a larger syndicate responsible for planting explosive devices at a Verulam mosque and several Woolworths stores in Durban since May.

The syndicate planned to terrorise businesses in the Durban area by planting incendiary devices to create panic among consumers.

Spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that the suspects were also linked to the attack at the Imam Hussein Mosque in Verulam, which left one person dead.

After months of investigation and crime-intelligence-driven operations, police said the motive for the attacks appeared to be extortion and not terrorist attacks.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the suspects were expected to appear in court today.

The brazen May attack at the mosque in Verulam, north of Durban, left Abbas Essop dead, while two others were seriously injured.

Azad Seedat, the founder of the Imam Hussein Mosque, said they were pleased with the police’s progress. However, he dismissed claims that the attack on the mosque was linked to extortion. He maintained it was a hate crime against the Shia community. The Imam Hussein Mosque is one of only three Shia mosques in the country.

THE Muslim Judicial Council (SA) is pleased to hear that the Hawks have arrested three suspects linked to the attack on a mosque in Verulam (Durban) that took place in May 2018.

The attack left one person dead and two others critically wounded during a time when the Muslim community was in the sacred month of Ramadaan (fasting).

The Muslim community has been on edge since the incident, as it seemed that authorities were not making headway in their investigations.

With these arrests, we are thankful to the SAPS, the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and all other role players, who painstakingly investigated this case and subsequently arrested the alleged perpetrators.

We call on the Muslim community to respect the rule of law and allow justice to take its course.

Should these suspects be found guilty, it would be imperative that they face the full might of the law. Shaykh Isgaak Taliep: Secretary-General | MJC