In Ethiopia a Church packed with about five hundred believers was attacked with bomb

ICC Note

Ethiopia is a country where Muslims and Christians peacefully lived together for centuries. But recently there has been upsurge in Islamic militancy in South West and Eastern parts of the country. As a result Churches have been attacked, Christians murdered and their properties damaged.

August 13, 2007 Ethiopia-ICC has come to learn that on August 5, 2007 bomb exploded at Ethiopian Full Gospel Church in Jijiga town. Jijiga is the capital city of Somali Regional State, which is one of the nine States in Ethiopia . The majority of dwellers in Somali Regional State are ethnic Somalis who are followers of Islamic religion.

At the time of the explosion, there were about Five Hundred believers worshiping at the church. Miraculously, the explosion has not resulted in bodily injury or death but it damaged the Church building.

This is the second time that the church is attacked by bomb. Before five years, there was similar bomb attack targeting the church.

Our sources in Jijiga town informed us that many church leaders have been receiving phone calls threating to harm them and their families. Besides, graffiti is being written on the church walls warning Christians about attacks.

So far, no one has taken responsibility for the attack on the church. Many Christians believe that Islamist Militant groups are behind the attack. On its part, Ethiopian government blames the attack on Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)-a rebel group fighting for independence of Somali Regional State from Ethiopia . The ONLF, on the other hand, blames the officials of Ethiopian government for deliberating staging the attack so as to incite religious violence in the region.