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September 28, 2018 – Prosecutor General of the Federal of Republic of Ethiopia has filed charges against five people who allegedly committed a bomb attack on the pro-Prime Minister rally on June 23, 2018 at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa
The five defendants, namely, Getu Girma, Birhanu Jafar, Tilahun Getachew, Bahiru Tollosa and Desalegn Tesfaye were accused of committing the grenade attack in which two people were killed and more than 100 were wounded.
According to charges of the Prosecutor General, the first defendant Getu Girma who had met with the second defendant Birhanu Jafar at the town of Sululta where Getu Girma reportedly convinced Berhanu Jafar as to why they should plan the attack. They believed the rally was called not by an independent body but rather by the EPRDF itself to promote new agenda. Getu Girma then advised birhanu Jafer to get ready.
The attackers were motivated by the belief that the government should not be led by Dr. Abiy Ahmed in place of what they believed to be the rightful ruling group, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the charge states.
In addition, the charges filed by the Attorney General indicate that the alleged attackers were driven by the thought that the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed does not stand for the interests of the Oromo people and that he has no acceptance among the Oromo people. The charges also indicate that the alleged attackers believed the PM was determined to implement the HR128 resolution passed by the US Congress which they thought he wants to carry out for his own self-interest. US resolution HR 128 supports respect for Human rights and “inclusive governance” in Ethiopia and was passed early this year by the United States Congress.
Getu Girma also called the third defendant Tilahun Getachew and told him he wanted someone who could throw the bomb.
The second defendant Berhanu Jafer had told the first defendant that he had two F bombs and one smoke bomb, the Prosecutor General said, adding that they met at the town of Sululta where they dwelt on preparing some individuals who can throw the bomb.
“The third defendant Tilahun Getachew was told by the first defendant to commit the attack at the rally. The third defendant called and told the fourth defendant about his plan of throwing the bomb and set time to discuss over the issue,” the charges read
According to the prosecutor general charges, on June 23, 2018, the first and second defendants spent the night in the second defendant’s home and at 5am they left by car with plate number number 2-262335. They drove and placed the two F bombs and one smoke bomb in the house of the first defendant.
The prosecutor said the first and the second defendants then met with the third, fourth and fifth defendants at Pizza area and discussed how they would commit the attack.
According to the charges, the third, fourth and fifth defendants had dressed T-shirts carrying the image of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed before they arrived at Meskel Square in the same car. In line with their mission, they mingled with the demonstrators and the third defendant, Tilahun Getachew, threw a bomb toward the stage after the Prime Minister finished his speech.
Two people were killed and 163 others were wounded due to the bomb attack, the charges read.
The fourth defendant, Bahiru Tolla, threw the one F bomb at small football field in front of Nani building but the bomb did not explode, the charges read.
Prosecutor also said that an Ethiopian woman named Genet Tamiru, also known as Toleshi Tamiru, was the mastermind of the attack and that she is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Following the attack, there has been widespread belief among many Ethiopians that the attack was engineered and carried out by members or supporters of the TPLF (Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front). According to these police charges, that is obviously not the case.
The post OLF Supporters Behind Meskel Square Grenade Attack appeared first on Satenaw: Ethiopian News & Breaking News: Your right to know!.