Myitkyina: Two gunmen shoot Catholic priest during Mass

Two unidentified men stormed the church at 6 am and fired at least five shots, local sources report. Fr Paul Khwi Shane Aung, 40, was admitted to hospital in Moe Nyin, Kachin State, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Myanmar

April 12, 2024

Yangon (AsiaNews) – Two unidentified gunmen shot a Catholic priest as he celebrated Mass at St Patrick's Church in Moe Nyin, Diocese of Myitkyina, Kachin State.

Father Paul Khwi Shane Aung, 40, is currently in the local hospital, undergoing emergency surgery for his serious injuries.

Myanmar was plunged into a brutal civil conflict more than three years ago following a military coup, which Pope Francis mentioned in his general audience on Wednesday.

In several regions of the country, chaos and violence are a daily occurrence, affecting civilians and members of religious minorities.

Little information is available about what happened this morning. The shooting took place around 6 am, local time.

Two, black-clad, masked men arrived on a motorbike. Once inside the church, they fired at least five shots, local sources say.

Fr Paul Khwi Shane Aung, who has served the local parish for four years, and a woman were hit.

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