South Africa: Suspected bomb found in Verulam mosque May 13 /update 1

Event

A suspected bomb was found in a Shi'a mosque in Verulam (KwaZulu-Natal province), near Durban, on Sunday, May 13, where on May 10 a group of unidentified men carried out a knife attack, killing one person and wounding two others. The mosque was evacuated shortly after the device was found, and a bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the site. Additional related acts of violence against Shi'a Muslims are possible in Verulam in the coming days.

Context

A group of unidentified men attacked the mosque on May 10. According to local media reports, the assailants stabbed three people praying in the mosque, resulting in the death of one of the victims, before setting the building on fire. A local Muslim leader claimed that the mosque had been the subject of threats of violence in the past, indicative of elevated Sunni-Shi'a tensions prevailing in the country.

Advice

Individuals in Verulam are advised to avoid the area until the situation normalizes, remain vigilant for potential related acts of violence, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.