By DINS International

Gunmen killed at least 34 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians Thursday in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, pushing the toll from attacks on worshippers to at least 94 in less than three weeks.

The attack hit Endato village in Robe district. Several other people suffered injuries. Attackers damaged or destroyed homes, shops and other property. Security personnel who tried to restore order got caught in the violence.

Two earlier attacks, on Oct. 20 and Oct. 24, killed at least 60 Orthodox Christians in the Merti and Shirka districts of Oromia. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church confirmed those deaths. On Oct. 26, its Holy Synod condemned the killings and called for urgent measures to protect worshippers.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission blamed the earlier attacks on the Oromo Liberation Army, an armed group that operates in the region. Authorities launched a security operation after the October attacks and arrested nearly 70 suspects.

Years of armed conflict in Oromia have displaced civilians and left the region unstable. The attacks have raised concerns about the safety of religious communities there.

The church has more than 30 million followers. It ranks among Ethiopia’s largest religious institutions.