A mob in Adama attacked a Voice of America reporter who was covering the riots; he was taken to hospital but escaped serious injury.[13] A national blood drive was launched to help the victims, with over 100,000 participating in the first two days.[14] Kefyalew Tefera, Oromo Regional police commissioner, said that there had been "a hidden agenda to divert the whole protest into an ethnic and religious conflict; there were attempts to burn churches and mosques." The official death toll had reached 67, with 15 rioters having been killed by security forces and the remainder killed by mobs, including at least five police officers.[8] According to local media, "citizen reports" however suggest the true death toll is upwards of one hundred.[5]