At least 38 people have been killed in an attack by suspected Islamic State-backed rebels on a church in Komanda, a city in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The assault, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, targeted worshippers attending an overnight Catholic mass, according to city officials.
Jean Kato, an official in the Komanda city administration, said the attackers stormed the church while the service was ongoing.
Thirty-eight people were killed, 15 injured, and several others still missing, officials told Reuters.
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Officials believe the attack was carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group with ties to the Islamic State, known for its brutal campaigns across the eastern Congo region.
The rebels were reportedly armed with guns and machetes, which they used to kill the victims.
Christophe Munyanderu, a human rights activist who visited the scene, said many locals initially mistook the gunfire for a robbery.
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“The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church,” he said.
