A government official in Lakes State says a soldier has been arrested in connection to a grenade explosion last Sunday in Yirol town of Lakes State.
At least eight people were wounded when the grenade hurled at mourners exploded at the final burial rites of the former South Sudan Ambassador to Kuwait Parmena Makuet Mangar Riak, who died of health complications last month.
Barnaba Mayor Deng, the secretary of former Eastern Lakes State told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the police are holding Majak Abeer, a soldier from the disabled unit, for investigation.
“A suspect has been arrested and the police are doing investigations. He was a neighbor to the late ambassador and he might have done it under the influence of alcohol but an investigation is on-going,” he noted.
Mayor said two of those wounded during the explosion are in critical condition while the rest were discharged from the hospital.
“According to the information I received, two people are in critical condition, a soldier with eye injuries has been flown to Juba and a pregnant woman has remained in the hospital while others with minor injuries have been discharged.”
Meanwhile, the official added that more than 16,000 people have been displaced from villages in Awerial county and Malek areas due to flooding.