Fighters linked to the terrorist organization "Islamic State" killed at least 38 people in an attack on a church in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, local authorities said, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
The attack in the town of Komanda is believed to have been carried out by rebels from the United Democratic Forces group, who were armed with firearms and machetes, local officials told Reuters.
A city official, Jean Kato, said worshippers were attending a night mass when the rebels attacked the church in the early hours of the day.
In addition to the 38 killed, 15 were wounded and several people are missing, local authorities reported.
Human rights activist Christophe Munyadero said he was at the scene of the attack and that when they heard the gunshots, people first thought they were being attacked by thieves.
"The rebels mainly attacked Christians who had spent the night in the Catholic church," Munyadero explained.
"Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes and bullets," he added.
The UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo condemned the latest outbreaks of violence in East Kivu province, where the attack took place.