Durban — After viewing security footage, the leadership of Durban North’s Musjidur Rahman Mosque, where explosive devices were discovered on Monday, said the suspects had intended to bomb the property.
At a media briefing on Thursday, the mosque’s leadership released CCTV footage which it said proved that the suspects spent 45 minutes planting the explosives, contrary to a police statement which suggested the suspects may have thrown the explosive devices into the mosque to hide them after being disturbed by a passing patrolling security guard.
Disputing the police’s version, the Mosque Trustees’ spokesperson Yusuf Desai said the police statement was therefore premature, as they had not looked at the footage provided. Police had said the suspects may have been en route to another location.
“The footage clearly showed the suspects planting the devices for 45 minutes, in a casual manner, which opposes the police statement which stated that the suspects fled after being interrupted by a security official,“ said Desai.
Several explosive devices were found inside the premises of the Durban North mosque in the early hours of Monday. On Tuesday, Desai said the mosque security guard noticed a vehicle entering the mosque’s driveway at about 12.45am and saw one of the occupants, an unidentified man, exiting the passenger side and placing an object in the shrubs near the mosque entrance; and upon noticing the guard approaching, the individuals fled the scene.
However, KZN police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker had said preliminary investigations indicated that unknown suspects were interrupted by a security vehicle patrolling the area, adding that the suspects fled and threw the devices into the mosque premises.
He said police bomb technicians confirmed that they were home-made explosive devices that consisted of commercial explosives.
“The devices were not set up to explode. It is suspected that the men were en route to an unknown location with the devices when they were disturbed by the security officer.”
Naicker said investigations to locate the suspects were continuing and commended the security officer who found the devices for not touching them and immediately alerting the authorities. He appealed to members of the community not to pick up any suspicious devices.
On Thursday, the police said, “Police investigation is underway and we cannot divulge any further details at this sensitive stage.”
Meanwhile, various religious groups including Jewish, Hindu, Christian and Baha’i faiths gathered at the mosque and called for unity and cohesion following the incident.
KZN Inter-religious Council Secretary Hailey Fudu said members of various faiths came forward to support the mosque and the Muslim community. She added that the Baha’i Faith, which she represents, was present alongside Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities.
“We discussed supporting each other when events like these occur and show people that we are united through faith,” she said.
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