Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aden (Agenzia Fides) Four Missionary Sisters of Charity, the community founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, were shot dead by gunmen early this morning in an attack on the structure in the Yemenite city of Aden where they assisted elderly and disabled persons. The news was confirmed to Fides by sources at the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. Besides the Sisters, the driver and at least two Ethiopian community helpers were killed whereas the Sister Superior was unhurt. Among the casualties, old and disabled persons assisted by the community. The total number of dead, according to local sources, is 16 at least, while no one knows the whereabouts of Indian Salesian priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, who had been staying at the sisters house since the church where he lived was sacked and torched by unidentified gunmen.
Two of the sisters killed were Rwandan, one was Indian and the fourth was from Kenya.
So far no one has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack, but it is known that in the Yemenite port-city, retaken some months ago by troops faithful to president Abdel Rabbo Mansour Hadi in conflict with Houthi rebels, there are rooted groups connected with the al Qaida network. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 4/3/2016).
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