Bomb victims ‘out of danger’

Arusha. All eight victims of Monday’s bomb attack in Arusha are out of danger, Health and Social Welfare minister Seif Rashid said yesterday.

The victims were rushed from Vama Traditional Indian Cuisine to Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), popularly known as Selian Hospital, immediately after the restaurant was attacked at around 10.30am. Yesterday, Dr Rashid said all of them were recovering as a result of good care they were receiving at the hospital. One of the victims, Mr Deepak Gupta, 25, whose left leg was amputated, told the minister that he expected to be discharged from the hospital any time.

Others admitted after the blast were Raj Rajin, Prateek Javey, Manci Gupta, Marisa Gupta and Mahushi Gupta.

Dr Rashid condemned the attack, and assured the victims and their relatives that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

The hospital’s director, Dr Mark Jacobson, said seven of the eight casualties received on Monday evening were admitted.

Four had been discharged by midday yesterday. They include 13-year-old Khandelwal, whose parents decided to send him to Nairobi for further treatment.

Monday’s incident was the latest in a string of bomb attacks that have rocked Arusha in the past year.

The restaurant near Arusha Gymkhana was packed with customers when an explosive device was lobbed in through a window.

The establishment is popular with Arusha expatriate community.