Man Gets Life in Prison for Deadly Bomb Attack on Abiy Rally

ADDIS ABEBA – A Federal High Court sentenced a man who attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed two years ago to life imprisonment on Tuesday.

Prosecutors charged at least five suspects with terrorism over an attempt to kill the Prime Minister in a grenade attack at a rally on June 23, 2018.

The attack in Addis Abeba killed two people and injured more than 100, but Abiy was unharmed.

After more than two-year long trial, the federal court has sentenced five people who were involved in the attack to a range prison terms.

“The offenders were found guilty of killing two people and injuring 150 others by throwing a hand grenade during a rally… in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,” reported FBC.

Accordingly, the main convict, identified as Tilahun Getachew, slapped with a life in prison.

The remaining four individuals received a prison sentence ranging from 5 to 23 years, according to the report.

The bomb attack was thrown amid tens of thousands of people attending the rally in support of Abiy in Meskel Square.

The prime minister was whisked away immediately after the blast. Abiy later described the attack as an “unsuccessful attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united”.