More than a dozen worshippers were killed, and more than 60 others were wounded, in a bombing at a church on Sunday (Jan. 15) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A group believed to have ties to Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Congolese military is reportedly blaming the extremist group Allied Democratic Forces for the bombing, according to the BBC.
The group said in a statement, “Let the Congolese forces know that their continued attacks on the Mujahideen (those who engage in jihad) will only bring them more failure and losses.”
Ongoing attacks
More than 10 Christians were killed June 21 when Islamist extremists ambushed three vehicles just days after a similar deadly attack.
Allied Democratic Forces reportedly carried out the attack on Beni-Kasindi Road in the embattled Beni territory of the DRC. Militant forces blocked the road and shot all occupants of the vehicles before setting them ablaze, the rights group International Christian Concern reported.
DRC is No. 40 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
