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Bombs damage mosque, railway lines in South Africa
Johannesburg, Oct 30: A series of bomb explosions in the Johannesburg township of Soweto damaged a mosque and railway lines linking the predominantly black township with South Africa`s biggest city and killed at least one person, officials and the media reported early today.
Johannesburg, Oct 30: A series of bomb explosions in the Johannesburg township of Soweto damaged a mosque and railway lines linking the predominantly black township with South Africa's biggest city and killed at least one person, officials and the media reported early today.
State radio and television reported that between seven and nine bombs had exploded, with one rocking a squatter camp, killing one person and wounding another, and said two more bombs had been disarmed by police, including one at a service station. Soweto police spokesman superintendent Richard Luvheng told the Sapa news agency that the explosion at the mosque came at about five minutes to midnight local time yesterday.
He said the explosion, which he described as resulting from a bomb, ripped a hole in the northern wall of the mosque in Soweto's Dlamini area. Metro rail spokeswoman Lilian Mofokeng said at least two blasts occurred along railway lines between Soweto and Johannesburg.
She said the damage appeared to be extensive.
The first explosion was inside a station and the second along a railway line, she said. The South African broadcasting service said another person might have died in the blast on the line.
Mofokeng said repair crews were on site but were waiting for police to declare the scenes safe before inspecting and repairing the damage.
The railways were bringing in shuttle buses to cope with morning rush-hour traffic.
No person or organisation made any immediate claim to have detonated the bombs.
Bureau Report
State radio and television reported that between seven and nine bombs had exploded, with one rocking a squatter camp, killing one person and wounding another, and said two more bombs had been disarmed by police, including one at a service station. Soweto police spokesman superintendent Richard Luvheng told the Sapa news agency that the explosion at the mosque came at about five minutes to midnight local time yesterday.
He said the explosion, which he described as resulting from a bomb, ripped a hole in the northern wall of the mosque in Soweto's Dlamini area. Metro rail spokeswoman Lilian Mofokeng said at least two blasts occurred along railway lines between Soweto and Johannesburg.
She said the damage appeared to be extensive.
The first explosion was inside a station and the second along a railway line, she said. The South African broadcasting service said another person might have died in the blast on the line.
Mofokeng said repair crews were on site but were waiting for police to declare the scenes safe before inspecting and repairing the damage.
The railways were bringing in shuttle buses to cope with morning rush-hour traffic.
No person or organisation made any immediate claim to have detonated the bombs.
Bureau Report