2 people were stabbed to death and others injured in a “brutal” attack at Malmesbury Masjied in Cape Town in the early hours of this morning (June 14).
This news has sent shock waves throughout the country, bearing in mind that it is the holy month of Ramadaan for Muslims.
The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) said in a statement on Facebook that they are shocked to the core to learn of the brutal attack at the Malmesbury Masjied.
“We can confirm that two people have been killed while in I’tikaaf and another regular musallee of the Masjied injured.”
“We do not have any further details as yet, but we urge the community not to jump to any conclusions until clarity can be given,” the MJC stated.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut said detectives are currently combing the crime scene for clues.
“Malmesbury police were called out to a local mosque and found two people stabbed to death and several injured,” he said.
“The suspect, believed to be in his 30s and armed with a knife, was still at the scene and charged at the police, who tried to persuade him to hand himself over. He ignored the calls and tried to attack police. He was shot and killed in the process,” said Traut.
What is Iʿtikāāf: It is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to ibadah during these days and staying away from worldly affairs. The literal meaning of the word suggests sticking and adhering to, or being regular in something, this ‘something’ often including performing nafl prayers, reciting the Qur’an and reading hadith.
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
