Security forces in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, have fired tear gas on crowds of Muslims who had gathered to observe the end of Ramadan.

Tens of thousands were attending Eid prayers in the city’s main stadium when violence broke out. There are no reports of casualties.

The incident came after days of growing tension between Muslims and Christians in different parts of the country after 20 Muslims were killed while attending a funeral last week in the north.

After the incident in Gondar city, there have been protests in several areas and retaliatory attacks including the burning of at least three churches in southern Ethiopia.

Monday’s violence in the capital is likely to escalate tensions.Images of people running away from tear gas and mothers desperately looking for their children in the chaos are being widely circulated on social media. Addis Ababa police blamed "a few individuals" for the violence and said property had been damaged. They vowed to conduct a thorough investigation.

The country is already divided by a civil war in the northern Tigray region and ethnic violence in many parts of the country.