Ethiopian authorities on Monday arrested dozens of people they linked to religious violence that marred Idd ul-Fitr prayers in the capital Addis Ababa.
Tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gathered at the Addis Ababa Stadium for morning prayers to mark the end of the Ramadhan fasting.
But the event was disrupted when police used tear gas to disperse the crowd for unclear reasons.
Ethiopia’s Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force, in a statement later on Monday, said the prayers were disrupted by anti-peace elements working with foreign-based historic enemies under the cover of religion.
The statement, however, didn’t reveal who the external forces were.
Some 76 suspects linked to Monday’s violence had been arrested.
Mohammed Hussein, an eyewitness, told the Nation.Africa that police unexpectedly started firing guns and teargas, prompting worshippers to flee the stadium.
“I was inside the stadium along with two of my friends. We heard multiple gunshots from outside the stadium” said Mohammed, a resident of Addis Ababa.
Thousands of other worshippers were attending the ceremony just outside the stadium in Meskel Square as the main venue was full, said Ali Nessredin.
“As prayers commenced, security forces started firing teargas not far from where I was standing,” said Mr Ali, 36, a shop owner.
“No one had a clue what was going on and people started to flee the area in different directions.”
Angered by the police actions, some worshippers started chanting slogans, leading to riots.
“Angry protesters afterwards started throwing stones at government buildings, including at a national museum on Meskel Square, smashing windows and damaging other property,” Ali said.
As thousands of worshipers scrambled to flee the scene in confusion, children were separated from their parents.
“Distraught mothers were seen desperately looking for their lost children, some were in tears,” Ali said.
Nation.Africa has learnt that Harun Media, a local Islamic affairs news outlet, used its Facebook page to reconnect lost children with their families.
This was the first time such violence had occurred during Idd ul-Fitr prayers in the Ethiopian capital.
But tensions had been rising in the Horn of Africa nation after last Tuesday’s attack on Muslim worshippers that left 21 people dead and over 150 injured.
The Amhara regional government on Saturday imposed a curfew in the historic tourist city of Gondar as security agencies struggled to quell the violence that was spreading to neighbouring states.
The number of suspects arrested in connection with last Tuesday’s religious violence had risen to 373.
Clashes were also reported in the city between some members of an undisclosed armed group and Ethiopian National Defense Force soldiers as violence spread to other towns in the Amhara region.
Two soldiers were reportedly killed. BY DAILY NATION