Fighters from al-Qaeda’s Jabhat al-Nusra raided a church in the northwest Syrian village of Quanayeh, capturing the parish priest along with 20 other Christians.
It is the latest in a long line of attacks on Syria’s Christian minority, which rebels have accused of being pro-Assad, and which after months of such attacks largely has become so.
The incident was confirmed by the Latin Patriarchate, who said no contact has yet been made with the kidnappers. Previous such incidents have seen the detainees held for months before being eventually released.
The identities of the other kidnapped Christians were not released, though in addition to the police, the Bishop of Aleppo confirmed that a number of children were also taken.