Public Urged to Be Patient As State Investigates Acid, Bomb Attacks

Dodoma — TANZANIANS have been urged to be patient and give room for security organs to conduct thorough investigation on a series of bomb and acid attacks that have occurred in some parties of the country in the recent past.

The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Pereira Ame Silima told the National Assembly on Tuesday that such incidents which occurred in Arusha, Morogoro, Dar es Salaam, Lindi and Zanzibar have left at least 12 people dead and 137 others injured.

He said that recent statistics show that there have been 11 incidents that involved acid attacks in Dar es Salaam, Tabora, Arusha, Geita and Zanzibar that have left 13 people injured.

He was answering a question by Waride Bakari Jabu (Kiembe Samaki-CCM) who wanted to know the progress of investigations in the acid and bomb attacks, including the recent bombing incident that occurred at Darajani area in Zanzibar where one person was killed and seven others injured.

The deputy minister noted that investigations into the incidents are still going on and that some of cases are already in court. He said that investigations take long because of the nature of the incidents themselves.

"It sometimes become difficult to complete investigations as those who are left behind as witnesses are in most cases unable to share information with the police. And at times we prefer to stay mum to avoid interfering with investigations," he said.

He said that investigations into the Darajani bombing is going on well and that police in Zanzibar have already arrested some people who are believed to be involved in the incident. He said that so far 25 people have been interrogated in Zanzibar.

The minister said that in a bid to control improper use of acid in the country, the police force in collaboration with the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and Chief Government Chemist in both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, are conducting a major operation to reduce the misuse of acid.

According to him, bomb specialists from the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) have already discovered the types of bombs and their countries of origin. He said the army officers are now doing scientific research to identify people who import the bombs. "We are determined to ensure public safety.

Legal action will be taken against any individual or group of people involved in acid and bomb attacks," he noted. The deputy minister called on the public to collaborate with the police in their respective areas by providing information whenever they observe something suspicious.

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