By RFPosted on 02-12-2019Modified on 02-12-2019 at 06:20

Fourteen worshipers were killed Sunday during a religious service during the attack on a Protestant church in Hantoukoura, eastern Burkina Faso. The actions of armed jihadist groups against places of worship are increasing.

The attack was perpetrated by a " dozen heavily armed individuals ," according to a security source, quoted by Agence France-Presse. The faithful, including the pastor of the church and children, were " coldly executed, " reports the same source. The victims would be 14.

A " raking operation " was then launched by the military group of Foutouri to find the attackers. In its statement, the governorate said that " the defense and security forces " have deployed "to help the wounded."

Several attacks on Christian sites

Attacks attributed to jihadist groups against Christian churches or clerics have increased recently in Burkina Faso.

On May 26, four worshipers were killed in an attack on a Catholic church in Toulfe, a town in the north of the country. On May 13, four Catholics were killed in a religious procession in honor of the Virgin Mary in Zimtenga, still in the north. On May 12, six people, including a priest, were killed during an attack during Mass in a Catholic church in Dablo, a town in Sanmatenga province in the north of the country. On April 29, six people were killed in the attack on the Protestant church in Silgadji in the north.

In mid-March, Father Joël Yougbaré, parish priest of Djibo (north), was abducted by armed individuals. On February 15, Fr César Fernandez, a Salesian missionary of Spanish origin, was killed in central Burkina Faso.

Several imams have also been assassinated by jihadists in northern Burkina since the attacks began four years ago, AFP said.

The north and east of the country are particularly troubled by jihadist attacks. On 6 November a civilian convoy was attacked near Boungou . It transported Burkinabè employees from the Canadian mining company Semafo. A few days later, the Burkinabe detachment of the group of forces for the security of eastern and central eastern Foutouri repulsed a terrorist attack.

► See also : The Army conducts anti-terrorism operations in the North and East

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