VERULAM – Religious leaders and one of the survivors of a deadly attack on a Durban mosque say there is no doubt in their minds the attack was a terrorist attack by the likes of an organisation like the Islamic State (Isis). 

A survivor of the attack said the attackers entered the mosque by saying they wanted to pray but after praying, they attacked and killed one person. 

The Hawks has taken over the investigation of the attack. 

The elite crime-fighting unit said earlier the attack shows signs of extremism.

“At this stage, the motive is still unknown. Hawks members attended the crime scene, there were elements of extremism. We are working together with crime-fighting units to find the perpetrators,” says Simphiwe Mhlongo, KZN Hawks Spokesperson.

#MosqueAttack Hawks says this attack has elements of extreminism

— malungelo booi (@malungelob) May 11, 2018

The suspects stormed the mosque and stabbed three men, killing 35-year-old Abbas Essop who hails from Canada.

The suspects threw a petrol bomb into the mosque before fleeing.

One of the victims is in a critical condition in hospital. The other one has been discharged.

#MosqueAttack One of those wounded in the attack has been discharge from hospital pic.twitter.com/MmE3Xg7H9M

— malungelo booi (@malungelob) May 11, 2018

Meanwhile, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) urged the community of Verulam not to take the law into its own hands.

The council said the community is devastated by the attack.

“It left me and the MJC horrified that such an attack could take place at a place of worship,” said the MJC’s Shayke Isgaak Taliep.

Editor’s note: This is a developing story eNCA.com will update it as and when new information becomes available.

eNCA