Possible priest crucifixion by the Islamic State terrifies Catholics

Salesian priest was kidnapped by the extremist organization


Priest Tom Uzhunnalil was the chaplain of nuns killed in offensive EI, on March 4


Priest Tom was taken March 5 an asylum in Aden, Yemen, founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. At the time, armed men who have connection with the Islamic State entered shooting and killed 16 people, including four nuns. Pope Francis had described the action as "diabolical". The only survivor of the attack said that the terrorists killed the patients one by one, in the head. She escaped because they hid behind a door.

The order to which Tom belongs, however, does not confirm the rumors of the crucifixion. "We do not know to this day who took it or why they attacked the home," said Mathew Valarkot, spokesman of the Salesians of Bangalore. "We have no news since Tom, if he's alive or was killed. But we ask prayers for him. " Vatican diplomats are working to discover the whereabouts of Tom.

Yemen is engulfed in a civil war for more than a year. The country is fertile ground for extremist groups - not only the Islamic State, but also the remains of al-Qaeda. Catholics are the target of terrorists of the Islamic State, who does not hide his intention to blow up the Vatican and to kill the Pope. Not surprisingly, after the attacks in Brussels, security in Rome has been reinforced, and all the pilgrims who wanted to get into St. Peter's Square had to pass through metal detectors.