38 killed in brutal church attack by IS-linked rebels

A deadly assault on a church in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has left 38 worshippers dead and dozens more injured or missing, according to local officials.

The massacre occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in the city of Komanda, where armed rebels stormed a Catholic church during a night mass. Authorities believe the attackers were members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group aligned with Islamic State.

Jean Kato, an official with the city administration, confirmed that gunmen and machete-wielding assailants targeted the congregation while they prayed overnight.

In addition to the 38 fatalities, 15 people were reported injured, and several others remain unaccounted for.

Christophe Munyanderu, a human rights activist who was at the scene, said the violence took residents by surprise. “The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church,” said Munyanderu. “Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes or bullets.”

He added that locals initially mistook the sounds of gunfire for ordinary criminal activity. “Shots were heard overnight but people at first thought it was thieves,” he said.

The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has condemned the latest wave of violence in the region, calling for stronger efforts to protect civilians from further attacks.

(REUTERS)