At least 43 killed in attack on Ethiopia Orthodox communities

At least 43 people were killed and 18 injured in an attack on Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, residents and the conflict-monitoring group ACLED said. The attack struck villages, churches and homes in Shirka district on Saturday, October 24, according to reports gathered on Monday. The final death toll has not been established. ACLED and residents cited by Agence France-Presse reported at least 43 deaths, while two residents estimated 44 and 51, and a deacon from an affected church put the toll at 46. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church separately said more than 60 people had been killed. That higher figure has not been independently confirmed in the reports. Residents said armed men attacked several villages and Orthodox Christian sites. One resident said a sister and an uncle were killed and that several relatives were taken hostage in Chole ward. Some villagers sought refuge in nearby churches, according to residents and the deacon. The status of the reported hostages has not been established. ACLED said the assault appeared to be religiously motivated and targeted Orthodox Christians. It also reported that violence triggered clashes with local...