Dozens killed in attack on Ethiopia Orthodox Christians

Armed men attacked Orthodox Christian villages, churches and homes in Shirka district of Ethiopia's Oromia region on Saturday, about 270 kilometres south of Addis Ababa, residents and the conflict monitor ACLED told AFP on Monday. At least 43 people were killed and 18 wounded, according to ACLED and residents, while one resident put the toll at 44, a church deacon at 46 and another resident at 51. ACLED said the attack was believed to be religiously motivated, targeted Orthodox Christians and led to clashes with local militias. A resident said relatives were taken hostage in Chole ward. The state-run Ethiopia Human Rights Commission said it was following the situation. No group has claimed the attack, and it was unclear whether the Oromo Liberation Front was involved. Verifying information is difficult due to media restrictions.

Where accounts differ. Death tolls differ: residents and a deacon cited 44, 46 and 51, while Borkena reported at least 47 according to The Rio Times, which also said local accounts blame extremists and allege official complicity, a claim absent from AFP and The Punch.

The PunchVanguardThe Rio Times

Written by AI from these outlets' articles: facts they report, claims attributed, numbers checked against the sources. It may still contain errors; read the originals.