ELCT church nearly torched

BY STAFF WRITER

25th August 2013

  Worshippers escape unharmed

A detective conducts forensic tests at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Segerea Parish in Dar es Salaam yesterday after unidentified arsonists attempted to set the church on fire.

Worshippers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) escaped unharmed on Friday night after unidentified individuals threw home-made explosives at a church building in Segerea area, Dar es Salaam.

The unknown individuals threw three bottles filled with petrol and paraffin apparently for setting the church building ablaze as worshippers were deep in the middle of prayers. The attackers reportedly hurled bottles with burning wicks at the church building.

The Guardian on Sunday reporter visited the site and spoke to Pastor Noah Kipungu who narrated the incident, saying they used beer bottles to carry out the attack. The incident caused panic among the worshippers. However, no one was injured, he said.

Pastor Kipingu said the wood built church structure did not catch fire and assets inside it including a music set, drums, plastic chairs and other furniture were intact.

Recounting how the incident occurred, Pastor Kipingu said the throwers of the explosives waited until worshippers were in the middle of prayers before they carried out the attack “There were around 20 worshippers in the building…suddenly they heard a bang at the altar followed by fire,” he said

According to Pastor Kipingu, only some cables of the speakers, the knee pad and Bibles were burnt, adding that a home made explosive burnt his car as it was near the petrol tank. Police arrived at the scene where they recovered three unexploded bottles.

Pastor Kipingu said he did not know the motive behind the attacks.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY