3 ARRESTED AS 405 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES FAINT AFTER GAS ATTACK AT CONVENTION

LUANDA, Angola – Three suspects have been arrested by the Angolan Police when 405 members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses fainted, following toxic gas attack at their Viana Convention ground in Luanda, Angola.

The Jehovah’s Witness fell unconscious when an unknown assailant unleashed lethal toxic gas on the witnesses who have gathered for their annual convention for spiritual enlightenment.

Although it was a lethal attack, nobody died from the incident, the Jehovah’s Witnesses(JWs) said on their website.

“The victims were taken to local hospitals and most were treated and released within a few hours. The incident is being investigated by the local authorities; three men were arrested and taken into police custody on Friday afternoon”, the statement added.

According to the branch office in Luanda, all of the victims are recovering well.

“It was noted that those in attendance did not panic and worked together to care for the injured. In cooperation with recommendations from the local police, the Friday afternoon session of the convention was canceled.

” However, the convention resumed successfully without major incident on Saturday, August 26, and Sunday, August 27. Attendance reached a peak of over 12,000, and 188 were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses”, the statement said.

See full statement below.

On Friday morning, August 25, 2017, during a convention being held at the Viana Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Luanda, Angola, 405 attendees were rendered unconscious when assailants released toxic gas in the main auditorium and separate restroom facilities. Fortunately, the gas was not lethal and no one was killed. The victims were taken to local hospitals and most were treated and released within a few hours. The incident is being investigated by the local authorities; three men were arrested and taken into police custody on Friday afternoon.

The branch office in Luanda reports that all of the victims are recovering well. It was noted that those in attendance did not panic and worked together to care for the injured. In cooperation with recommendations from the local police, the Friday afternoon session of the convention was canceled. However, the convention resumed successfully without major incident on Saturday, August 26, and Sunday, August 27. Attendance reached a peak of over 12,000, and 188 were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses. See statement here https://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/angola/toxic-gas-20170829/