A group of Southern Sudanese youths attacked Catholics at Khartoum’s cathedral during Christmas celebrations in the early hours of Friday.
Two hundred boys armed with knives, machetes and sticks attacked worshipers at Saint Matthew’s Catholic Cathedral in Khartoum following the Christmas midnight mass.
The head of security at the cathedral, Peter Luak Puk, told Sudan Radio Service that there was a violent disturbance during the mass, with youths rioting and making a lot of noise and they were carrying machetes and sticks and other weapons.
Mr. Luak said he personally communicated with the police and the police headquarters sent three vehicles full of officers.
He added that unfortunately the three vehicles were not enough, the police were not able to disperse the attackers because their numbers were so huge and the youngsters divided themselves into three groups, the first group would come and then go and the next group would follow.
The police did not find the youths because they hid themselves amongst the worshipers and they waited to attack and it was very difficult to control them.
Mr. Luak added that many people were injured in the incident.