Comoros President Slightly Injured in Knife Attack

Attacker arrested after incident near capital Moroni, another person injured
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Sep 14, 2024 10:00 AM CDT
Comoros President Slightly Injured in Knife Attack
Comoros' President Azali Assoumani waves as he is escorted by Chinese officials upon arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport, in Beijing, on Sept. 1, 2024.   (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool, File)

President Azali Assoumani of Comoros—an island nation in the Indian Ocean—was "slightly injured" in a knife attack while attending a funeral on Friday, his office reported. A civilian attempting to protect him was also hurt. Security forces arrested the attacker, though details about the assailant remain undisclosed. The incident occurred in Salimani, near the capital Moroni, during the funeral of a religious leader. The president's office confirmed Assoumani's injuries are not severe, and he has returned home. Government minister Aboubacar Said Anli stated that there is no immediate information on the extent of the civilian's injuries.

Assoumani, 65, a former military officer, first seized power in a coup in 1999 and has been Comoros' leader intermittently since. Reelected in January amid disputed elections, Assoumani's tenure has been marked by allegations of cracking down on dissent and eliminating term limits. Comoros, an island nation off East Africa, has a history of political instability, with over a dozen coups or attempted coups since 1975. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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