At least two people have been killed and 156 people injured in an attack on a rally by reform-minded Ethiopian leader Abiy Ahmed. 44 people are still in the hospital, five of which are in critical condition said Health Minister Amir Aman on Sunday on Facebook.

In a speech transmitted in the station, ETV Abiy called the explosion at the event in the capital Addis Ababa on Saturday a “well-orchestrated attack”.

Those behind it would desperately try to disrupt the peace, the ruling coalition EPRDF said. But this reprehensible act will not stop the current reforms in the country.

The explosion came shortly after Abiy’s speech at the rally. Someone had tried to throw a grenade towards the stage where the head of the government was sitting, said Seyoum Teshome, one of the organizers of the rally, the German Press Agency. However, some people could have prevented the person from doing so. Abiyi remained unharmed.

After the incident, nine police officers were arrested, including Deputy Chief of Police in Addis Ababa, reported the TV channel ETV. In what context the police officers should stand with the deed remained unclear at first.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the act as an “act of violence”. Guterres had heard with deep concern about the incident and show solidarity with the citizens and the government of Ethiopia, said Guterres spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in a central square in the capital on Saturday morning to support the reform-minded Abiyi, who has been in office since April. There were also rallies in other cities in Ethiopia.

Since taking office, Abiy has initiated several reforms in the state of the Horn of Africa. He announced, inter alia, the release of hundreds of prisoners, sought dialogue with the opposition and has taken steps to end a years-long border conflict with neighboring Eritrea.

Ethiopia, with its approximately 100 million inhabitants, has so far been ruled with a hard hand. Despite rapid economic growth, Ethiopia is still one of the poorest countries in the world according to UN statistics.