Police commissioner condemns "cowardly" attack

Ethiopia’s police commissioner on Monday condemned a “cowardly” grenade attack on a busy bar in Addis Ababa which injured 31 people - three of them seriously.

Commissioner Workneh Gebeyehu told IRIN that the victims of the blast at the Segen Hotel bar on Saturday night were innocent revellers who had been enjoying a night out.

“The grenade was thrown into the hotel where it exploded,” the commissioner stated. “The bar is very small and it was very busy and these are all innocent people.”

Forensic experts are searching the wrecked site for clues to the attack. The victims of the blast were all rushed to hospital where they were treated before being released. Three people still
remain in hospital.

Although no arrests have been made, police said they have eyewitnesses to the attack but declined to comment on the information they had been given.

“We don’t know at present who has carried out this cowardly attack but we are investigating,” the commissioner said.

Workneh added that it was too early to speculate on the perpetrators or link the incident to a blast at the city's Tigray Hotel last September which killed three and injured 38.

That blast – which occurred on the Ethiopian New Year - was blamed on the rebel Oromo Liberation Front, although the group has denied responsibility.

Commissioner Workneh also reiterated his warning for the public to remain vigilant and said that the country was still on high alert.

Ethiopia has stepped up security in the wake of recent attacks in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.