People observe Eid al-Fitr at Addis Ababa Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 2, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)
ADDIS ABABA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Ethiopian Muslims marked the Eid al-Fitr festival on Monday amid increasing religious tensions.
Ethiopian state media outlets showed video footage of tens of thousands of Muslims in the capital congregated at Addis Ababa Stadium early in the morning to observe the Eid prayers.
However, Addis Ababa police disclosed in a press statement a riot instigated by few individuals in one of the main Eid al-Fitr festival celebration areas of the city resulted in property damages.
The statement didn't mention the extent of the property damage and whether there were human casualties in the riot.
Footages circulating in social media apparently showed some Muslim worshippers in the city throwing stones, with security forces responding with tear gas shots.
There have been no reports of Eid al-Fitr celebration related violence in other parts of Ethiopia so far.
Tension has been rising across Ethiopia after deadly violence between the Christian and Muslim communities in northern Ethiopia city on Tuesday left at least 20 dead.
The violence in Gonder city was triggered by a longstanding competing ownership dispute of land surrounding a cemetery by members of both the Christian and Muslim communities.
Ethiopian security forces have disclosed 373 suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the deadly violence in Gonder city. ■
People observe Eid al-Fitr at Addis Ababa Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 2, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)
People observe Eid al-Fitr at Addis Ababa Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 2, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)