Father Tom Uzhunallil, a Catholic priest from Bengaluru was reportedly kidnapped by ISIS in Yemen. A recent Facebook post by the Franciscan Sisters of Siessen, based in South Africa, claimed that the Salesian priest was being tortured and could be crucified on Good Friday.
According to reports, ISIS militants opened fire on a convent and nursing home in Yemen run by the Missionaries of Charity on 4 March. The attack claimed the lives of 16 people, including four nuns, two staff members and eight nursing home residents. Father Uzhunnalil was reportedly praying in the convent’s chapel at the time. He was later kidnapped by the gunmen.
Father Mathew Valarkot, spokesman for the Salesians’ Bangalore province, told The News Minute, “We don’t have any information so far about Father Tom. We also don’t have any proof of him being kidnapped, and no group has claimed responsibility till now.”
Father Valarkot could not confirm whether the information from the Facebook post was authentic.
According to christianpost, Sister Sally, the lone survivor of the terrorist attack, said in a testimony that a neighbour saw them shove Father Tom into their car. However, no group has come forward to claim the kidnapping.
