South Africa News

Police launch manhunt for #MosqueAttack

Parliament has called on police to prioritise the investigation into Thursday afternoon’s fatal attack at a mosque in KwaZulu-Natal.

The cause of the incident is unknown‚ but police‚ private security and paramedics have confirmed that three men stormed the Imam Hussain Mosque in Ottawa in Verulam‚ north of Durban.

Two men had their throats slit and another man was stabbed in the attack. One of the men whose throat was slit died in hospital.

Parts of the mosque were also set alight.

SAPS have confirmed that a murder case‚ two attempted murder cases and a case of arson were being investigated. No arrests have been made.

Chairman of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police‚ Francois Beukman‚ said the alleged attack was shocking and the South African Police Service should prioritise the investigation.

KZN mosque attack

 

“A mosque is a religious institution‚ and South Africa’s Constitution guarantees and protects the right to religious practices. This kind of attack on three innocent people is totally unjustified. We want our communities to live in harmony‚ practising their religions without fear‚” he said.

Beukman said everything should be done to arrest the perpetrators‚ and called on anyone with information to contact law enforcement agencies.

The Muslim Judicial Council has also strongly condemned Thursday’s attack.

In a statement‚ the council reiterated that a core teaching of Islam was “respect for all human beings”.

“We remind South Africans that the makeup of our society is one of religious‚ cultural and ethnic diversity and tolerance‚” the statement read. “We call on all communities to remain law abiding citizens and refrain from any and all forms of vigilantism.”

Acting KZN police commissioner‚ Major General Bheki Langa‚ said the case was being investigated.

“Such criminality cannot be tolerated. A team of investigators has been dispatched to solve the case and bring perpetrators to book‚” he said.

Source: Timeslive