More than 60 people have been killed in a series of attacks on Christians in Ethiopia's Oromia region, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. A church official described attacks on three areas in Shirka district as a massacre, saying security forces reached the scene but were unable to stop the assault.

The church's Holy Synod said 20 houses were burnt down in the attacks. Eyewitnesses told BBC Amharic that residents were caught by surprise, and that five of those killed were children. Many residents have since fled the area. The synod confirmed the attacks in a public statement on 26 October, covering violence reported between 20 and 24 October in the Sherka and Merti districts of Oromia's Arsi Zone.

Conflicting accounts of who was responsible

The church statement did not identify who carried out the attacks. A local official blamed a newly formed rebel coalition, the Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army. That group has not commented on this incident and has previously denied involvement in similar attacks.

The reported death toll is not yet settled: while the church reports more than 60 killed, other reporting based on AFP cited at least 43 killed and 18 wounded. The regional government said it would take action against those responsible. The church said it had repeatedly raised security concerns with authorities at different levels, but that no lasting solution had been found.

Sources: BBC via Capital FM and Baptist Press.