One person was killed and 11 others were injured after a grenade went off in Ndera, a suburb of Kigali, on Thursday evening, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) said.
Nine of those injured suffered minor injuries while the remaining two were seriously injured, according to a statement from the RNP. The injured, which included two children, aged eight and 12, were immediately taken to the Rwanda Military Hospital for treatment.
Seven people have since been discharged while four remain admitted at the Rwanda Military Hospital in stable condition, a statement from the RNP on Friday said.
The deceased was identified as a 25-year-old man named Jean-Paul Tunezerwe, a resident of Ndera and a regular customer at the barbershop where the explosion occurred.
“It has been established that when the barber, Niyikiza Pacific, 31, requested him (Tunezerwe) to sit for his haircut, the victim said that he was carrying something in his pocket, which he tried to show to the barber. Inside his pocket was a smoke-emitting grenade,” the police state read in part.
“On seeing the grenade, Niyikiza immediately told Tunezerwe to get out of the salon and in the process the grenade detonated.”
The deceased’s body was taken to Kacyiru District Hospital for post mortem.
The RNP’s preliminary findings ruled out that a motive behind the explosion was terrorism.
“Detailed investigations have started in order to ascertain the source of the grenade.”
The police have appealed to anyone who may have encountered the deceased to come forward with information.
