This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 7, 2020, a devastating grenade explosion occurred at a hair salon in Kimironko, a suburb in Kigali, Rwanda, leaving one person dead and 11 others injured.
The deceased, Tunezerwe Jean Paul, 25, a regular customer at the salon, had been sitting for a haircut when he revealed to the barber, Niyikiza Pacific, 31, that he was carrying something in his pocket.
According to the Rwanda Police, Jean Paul attempted to show the barber the object, which was later discovered to be a smoke-emitting grenade.
Upon seeing the grenade, the barber immediately told Jean Paul to leave the salon, but the grenade detonated in the process, causing the explosion.
The injured, including two children aged 8 and 12, were rushed to Kanombe Military Hospital for treatment, while the dead body was taken to Kacyiru District Hospital for a post-mortem.
As of now, seven people have been discharged, while four remain admitted at Rwanda Military Hospital in a stable condition.
The police have ruled out terrorism as a motive, and investigations are ongoing to determine the reason behind the attack.
The police are requesting anyone who met Jean Paul on the day of the incident to share any information they may have about him.
