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Recovery of corpses of cult followers in Kenya
Photo: REUTERS
The number of victims of a "hunger sect" in Kenya's coastal region of Malindi has risen to at least 419 people. According to the authorities, the search for more victims will continue on Wednesday.
Just over three months ago, it became known that a local cult leader in a wooded area had isolated his followers and asked them to starve themselves to death. In this way, believers should come close to Jesus. Only 95 people were rescued alive from the forest by the emergency services. Many people are still missing. The authorities are combing the forest for more graves.
The self-proclaimed pastor, a former taxi driver, had already founded his church "Good News International Church" in 2003 and most recently lived isolated with his followers in the forest area. The forest area had already been combed for mass graves.
Mortuary completely overloaded – Red Cross brings refrigerated container
During an exhumation in May, the morgue of the local hospital was completely overloaded due to the high number of dead. The Kenyan Red Cross had brought a refrigerated container to the region, in which the dead can initially be stored. DNA samples were taken from 93 bodies for identification.
From East African countries, there are repeated reports of cult leaders who make their followers dependent on promises of salvation. One of the most serious mass murders was committed by the sect "Movement for the Reinstatement of the Ten Commandments of God" in Uganda 23 years ago. There, the cult leaders killed more than 700 people after an announced end of the world did not occur and followers wanted to go to the police.
lmd/dpa