At least 29 people in Liberia, including 11 children and a pregnant woman, died following a stampede of worshippers at a Christian worship service in the nation’s capital. Liberian President George Weah visited the scene Jan. 20 and declared three days of national mourning. He also called for stricter regulations on large religious gatherings for safety reasons, the Associated Press reported.
Violence in the crowd
The stampede occurred around 9 p.m. Jan. 19 as hundreds gathered in a densely populated area of Monrovia for a crusade. According to local officials, a gang armed with knives attacked some of the worshippers, causing the crowd to panic.
Police spokesman Moses Carter told AP one person has been arrested.