A 40-year-old man was shot in an apparent hit during prayers at a Cape Town mosque on Friday.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi says armed men entered the place of worship in Kings Road, Brooklyn and opened fire at the victim.
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‘He was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,’ he told News24.
‘The motive for this attack is now the subject of an investigation by the South African Police Service.’
The SAPS appeals to anyone with information to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or by using the MySAPS mobile application.
Journalist and anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee says the victim was shot several times in an apparent hit. ‘The shooter went straight to him in a section outside the Mosque and opened fire,’ he said on the social platform X.
In a video shared on social media, bystanders can be seen outside the mosque, discussing what could have happened. A group of worshippers carried the victim out and rushed him to hospital.
Video as received:
Mosque shooting:
Cape Town. https://t.co/mpRTl70jVW pic.twitter.com/SzdZtSpRNj
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 26, 2024
The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) condemned the shooting, stating that the ‘senseless act of violence is a clear violation of the sanctity and sacredness of the Mosque’.
‘We call upon law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. This act of violence in a place of worship, a sanctuary meant for peace and reflection, has left our community deeply traumatised and shaken,’ the organisation said in a statement.
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Picture: Screenshot from video by Muslim Judicial Council – SA / Facebook