Three shot dead in attack on Colombian church

Three people were killed and 14 seriously injured when masked men opened fire on a church in southern Colombia during a prayer service. The gunmen attacked the Christian and Missionary Alliance church with automatic weapons, and targeted the 45 people making up the congregation in Obrero, Puerto Asis.

The pastor, Francisco Sevillano, told the Bogota newspaper el Tiempo: “Three men wearing black hoods came in shooting. People started running around everywhere, not knowing what to do.”

Two children were among those injured, and the area was in almost total darkness at the time of the attack as there was no electricity available in this impecunious community.

Reports offer conflicting explanations as to who was responsible or why the church was attacked. Some indicate that right-wing paramilitaries were likely to have been responsible as this is an area with heavy paramilitary presence. Others say that pamphlets from the left-wing guerrilla group, FARC, were left outside that declared a new offensive in the region.

The motive behind the attack is also unclear with one report suggesting that Jorge Arnulfo Santamaria Montoya, a retired policeman and a local council member, was the target. He suffered multiple bullet wounds and was transferred to a hospital in a larger city because of the seriousness of his injuries. He has also survived two previous assassination attempts.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) vigorously denounces the attack on the church at a time when people were gathered together to pray and worship.

Alexa Papadouris, CSW’s Advocacy Director, said: “This demonstrates the total lack of respect that all the armed groups show towards the sanctity of a place of worship and of the innocent civilians, particularly children, that gather there. If the armed groups want to be taken seriously by the world as legitimate players in the political process they must begin by respecting the neutrality of civilians and their basic right to life.”

CSW has asked supporters to pray for the families of those who were killed and for those who are still struggling for life in hospitals across the country. CSW has also given supporters the address of the Pastor for supporters to write to.