One man was killed, and another two seriously injured, when three men attacked a mosque in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal just before 3PM yesterday.

In addition to those injuries, the Imam Hussain Mosque in Old Main Road in Ottawa was also set alight, reports News24.

Three Egyptian men are believed to be behind the attack, which comes just days before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

Before we get to that video, here’s Prem Balram from Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), a private security company that responded to the attack:

…when he arrived on the scene, he found two people outside with their throats slit.

“They were in a critical condition and bleeding profusely,” he said.

Balram said another man was found inside the mosque. He said paramedics were busy attending to all three victims.

“The suspects have fled in a white Hyundai Getz. Rusa is requesting the public’s assistance in apprehending these suspects. Paramedics or doctors who can assist can report to the scene,” Rusa said in an earlier statement.

A warning that the footage below is very disturbing:

According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala, police are investigating three counts of attempted murder and arson.

Gwala also added that the motives of the attack are unclear.

The Daily Maverick have more on what transpired:

Paul Herbst, spokesman for the private IPSS medical rescue service, told AFP that the imam had his throat slit and passed away a few hours after the attack.

“There were three people in the mosque — a caretaker, a worshipper and the imam and they were held up by three armed men,” Herbst said.

“The (imam) was tied up and thrown to his knees and his throat was slit. The other two men were also stabbed — one was stabbed in the abdomen and the other in the groin of his left leg.

“Before the assailants left the mosque, a petrol bomb was thrown into the mosque and it was set alight.”

Condolences to all those affected by this heinous attack.

[sources:news24&dailymav]