More than 60 Christians killed in Ethiopia ‘massacre’, church official says

More than 60 Christians have been killed in a series of attacks in Ethiopia's Oromia region, according to the Orthodox Church. The attacks targeted three areas in the Shirka district, burning down 20 houses. One resident described it as an ambush, with attackers surrounding the community from all directions without warning. The regional government vowed to take action against those responsible.

The Oromo Liberation Army, a newly formed rebel coalition, has been blamed for the attacks, though the group has denied involvement and previously claimed innocence in similar incidents. Five victims were children, and a church official labeled the events as a "massacre." The Orthodox Church condemned the violence, noting that attacks against Christians have been increasing recently and undermining the country's values of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported that 458 people had been killed in similar attacks in the region over the past four years, many of them motivated by religion. The government has previously accused the OLA of orchestrating these attacks, but the group denies these claims.