Church attack in South Sudan left twenty-three dead
At least twenty-three people were killed and twenty others were wounded when unidentified gunmen stormed a church compound in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Diocese of Athooch in Jonglei state on the 27th of July. Another six children were taken as hostages, Religion Unplugged reports.
The gunmen attacked from two directions and killed the dean and fourteen women and children, who were seeking shelter around the church.
After vandalising the church and the objects of worship, they set the area ablaze along with the entire village.
“After killing people in the church, the gunmen went to the homestead village and killed people there,” Bishop Moses Anur Ayom said. “The gunmen burned down the whole village in Makol Chuei. Thus far, we have six people who are missing and we are not sure whether they are alive or dead. In addition, six children were also abducted.”
About 90% of Jonglei state’s population is Christian, but they are from many different ethnic tribes. Communal violence has intensified in the country, recently killing hundreds of civilians and creating humanitarian emergencies in the region.
Source: ENS
Photo credit: SOMA UK
