2 people stabbed to death in South Africa mosque attack

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

Two Muslim worshippers were stabbed to death and three others were injured by a knife-wielding assailant at a mosque in Malmesbury outside Cape Town early Thursday morning, according to police.

Police later shot the assailant dead.

Western Cape police spokesman Lt. Col. Andre Traut told local eNCA television: "The suspect, believed to be in his 30s, armed with a knife charged at the police on the scene who tried to persuade him to hand himself over.

"He ignored the call and tried to attack the police. He was shot and killed in the process."

The Muslim community across South Africa condemned the incident, which came just a day before the Muslim festival of Eid.

The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa said it was sad that such an incident took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

This is not the first attack on Muslims during Ramadan in South Africa.

A worshipper was also killed at the start of Ramadan in the coastal city of Durban.