Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Mkadam Khamis Mkadam, said the bomb could have caused serious damage in the area if it had gone undetected and exploded.
“The area where the ‘bomb’ was planted is a taxi stand and normally a busy street for tourists,” he said. “We are holding three people to help us in the investigations, but we are also asking members of the public to provide information that will lead the authorities to identify people behind the explosive device,’ said Mr Mkadam, who is the Regional Police Commander (RPC) of Zanzibar Urban West Region.
He said a good samaritan informed the police on the matter, who later called experts from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) who detonated the device without causing harm to the people. “Forensic detectives have also collected samples from the scene.
We hope to identify a person who made and planted the ‘bomb’,” Mr Mkadam told journalists. Shortly after the RPC’s press conference yesterday, another homemade explosive device was found at Michenzani. It was detonated. Mr Mkadam said despite the explosives, Zanzibar town was peaceful.
He said people were going on with their normal activities, as police patrol continues. The RPC blames a section of the print and social media for exaggerating insecurity in Zanzibar.
Mr Mkadam also said police are following up reports that a group of youth plan to stage a demo tomorrow. “We have not allowed any demonstration and any illegal demonstrators will be dealt with according to the law.”
Some parents and teachers have expressed concern over security situation because tomorrow, students will start sitting for Form Four examinations.
However, Mr Abdulla Bakar Khamis, Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, urged parents
DAILY NATION
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