Dhaka: St. Mary’s Cathedral attack raises fears but n one was wounded among worshippers
Two improvised explosive devices were thrown at the country's main Catholic cathedral; one landed inside but did not explode. Police have opened an investigation, but the motive behind the attack is still unknown. The attack came on the eve of an important meeting with approximately 600 worshippers. Worshippers and residents living near the cathedral are very concerned.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Last night, St. Mary's Cathedral, in Ramna (central Dhaka), was rocked by an explosion at 10:45 pm local time, which caused panic among residents in the area and worshippers present at the time.
Police sources have confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries, although fear and concern about the attack persist within the local Catholic community.
According to Church sources, two improvised explosive devices, known locally as “cocktails”, were thrown at the country's main Catholic church, one exploded near the gate, while the other, which landed inside the church premises, failed to detonate. Police later recovered the unexploded device.
The attack came a few hours before the start of an important religious programme, expected to draw hundreds of people from various parts across Bangladesh. The meeting was scheduled to start this morning at the cathedral.
The motive for the attack is currently unknown.
“Around 600 guests from various churches across the country were expected to attend the programme in the morning. But at the night, a Molotov cocktail explosion occurred in front of the cathedral. Thankfully, no one was injured,” said Father Albert Rozario, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral, speaking to AsiaNews. “Police have already visited the site, and we will take legal action regarding the attack,” he added.
Mazharul Islam, Assistant Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for the Ramna Division, told reporters that preliminary investigations indicate that two homemade bombs were hurled at the church: one exploded, the other did not. "Our officers are collecting evidence and an investigation is underway,” he said.
The explosion caused panic among worshippers and residents living near the cathedral, which is located in a densely populated and highly secure area of the capital.
This incident follows a similar attack a month ago, on 9 October, when the target was the Holy Rosary Church in Tejgaon, one of the oldest and largest Catholic parishes in the capital.
In that case, two individuals were seen fleeing after throwing homemade bombs. No injuries were reported, but the attack also raised the fear level among Catholics.
After last month’s incident, Catholics in Dhaka expressed renewed concern for their safety.
“After the Tejgaon incident, we were already worried. Now this attack on the cathedral, our national church, has increased our fear," said a parishioner who lives in the Ramna area, requesting anonymity.
Local Christian leaders have called for a thorough investigation. In this regard, a Church source told AsiaNews that these attacks "appear to be coordinated attempts to intimidate the Christian community" ahead of major religious gatherings.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, law enforcement have intensified patrols around Dhaka's main churches, including St. Mary's Cathedral and the Church of the Holy Rosary.
Bangladesh’s Catholic community, which numbers around 400,000 members, has generally lived peacefully side by side with the Muslim majority.
However, sporadic attacks have occurred against Catholic institutions and individuals, such as the 2001 bombing of the Baniarchar Catholic Church in Gopalganj and the murder of Catholic grocer Sunil Gomes in Natore in 2016, painful events that remain etched in the memory of the community.
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01/06/2017 20:23
