Blast of Ethiopian capital was “not a terror attack” – Police

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

January 17, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Addis Ababa Federal police on Saturday said that the blast that wounded 33 people outside the Addis Ababa bus station on Thursday morning is not related with terrorist attack.

“It absolutely is not a terrorist attack” Federal police commander Demsash Hailu told Sudan Tribune. “A passenger was carrying a single hand grenade that accidentally went off wounding 33 people including 9 seriously” he added.

It is not clear if the person holding the weapon was among the wounded. But Demsash says police is following up the incident

“Police is under investigation on the incident and on why a passenger was carrying a hand grenade.”

Ethiopia has repeatedly accused Arch-foe Eritrea for a number of civilian targeted bomb attacks inside and outside the capital, Addis Ababa, to which Eritrea denies to all accusations.

(ST)