South Africa: Explosion at ANC headquarters politically motivated – Spokesman

The ANC said the incident was aimed at destabilizing the party.

South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), said the explosion at its headquarters on Tuesday night was an instigated attack with “political undertone’’.

Jackson Mthembu, the party spokesman, told journalists that the party believes that a fire which broke out in its Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg was an act of arson politically motivated..

He said that the incident was aimed at destabilising the party in the run-up to next year’s general elections.

He added that the ANC viewed the incident in a serious light.

A bottle containing an unknown chemical exploded in the reception area of Luthuli House on Tuesday.

Some top ANC members were said to be at a meeting on the 11th floor of the building at the time, the explosion occurred.

“There was a lot of smoke and smell of something chemical. The security guards told us that the flames were so high that it touched the ceiling.

“We view this in a serious light as it appears as an act of attempting to destabilise the ANC through acts of arson and sabotage,” Mr. Mthembu said.

Police have condoned off the building and sniffer dogs were sent in to search for any more devices, while forensic and ballistic experts were also deployed to the scene, and the evidence, along with CCTV footage, will be studied.

(NAN)