Nairobi: At least 20 people were trampled to death at an open- air evangelical Christian church service in the north of Tanzania, officials said on Sunday. u201c So far, 20 people have died, but the death toll could increase as there were also wounded,u201d government official Kippi Warioba, district commissioner in the northern town of Moshi told AFP. The stampede occurred when Boniface Mwamposa, who heads the Arise and Shine Ministry Tanzani, and calls himself the u201c Apostleu201d, poured what he said was holy oil on the ground and the crowd surged toward to touch it in the hope of being cured of sickness, witnesses said.

u201c Dozens of people fell being jostled and trampled, and some died. We have counted 20 people killed.u201d u201c It was horrible, people trampled on mercilessly,u201d another witness said. Agencies Tanzanian church stampede kills 20 A police officer near the church on Sunday. PIC/ AFP The stampede occurred when the preacher poured u2018 holy oilu2019 on the ground and the crowd surged to touch it in the hope of being cured of sickness