World

CAR: At least 15 killed in Bangui church attack

May 1, 2018 4:14 pm

At least 15 people, including a priest, have been killed in an attack on a church in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Gunmen armed with grenades targeted the Notre-Dame de Fatima church in the capital Bangui during mass on Tuesday.

The incident took place near the predominantly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood, where 28 people were killed during clashes last month.

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The CAR has faced several years of ethnic and religious conflict.

In 2013, Muslim rebels from the Seleka umbrella group seized power in the majority-Christian country. A band of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-balaka, rose up to counter the rebels.

Country profile: Central African Republic
Local sources said that the death toll of Tuesday’s attack was at least 15, while French international radio station RFI quoted the Red Cross in the CAR as saying that at least 16 people had been killed and 99 injured.

Angry crowds carried the body of the slain priest towards the presidential palace.