Bomb claims 10 lives in DR Congo church

A bomb strike on a church in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday left at least 10 people dead and 39 injured, according to Islamic State terrorists. The "terrorist incident," according to Congolese military spokesman Antony Mualushayi, took place in a Pentecostal church in Kasindi, a town in North Kivu province that is bordered by Uganda.

He noted that the initial death toll of five has been revised to at least 10 deaths and 39 injuries. Both tolls were temporary, according to the official.

However, Bilal Katamba, the spokesman for Uganda's military mission in the DRC, reported on Sunday evening that 16 people had died and 20 had been injured in the explosion.

"The attackers used an IED to carry out the attack and we suspect ADF is behind the attack," he added.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which the Islamic State group claims to be its affiliate in central Africa, are believed to have carried out the attack, the DRC's communications ministry claimed on social media. The ADF is among the deadliest of the more than 120 armed organizations that exist in eastern DRC, many of which are the result of the several regional conflicts that erupted around the turn of the century in the huge, destitute country.

It has been charged with carrying out bomb attacks in Uganda and killing thousands of civilians in the Congo. In the past, ADF agents have detonated bombs in North Kivu towns.

According to the specialized monitoring group Site intelligence group, the Islamic State group claimed credit for the incident on Sunday evening and stated that "almost 20" persons had been murdered.

After the attack, a suspect from Kenya, according to Army spokesman Mualushayi, was detained.

Esdras Kambale Mupanya, a deacon of the evangelical church in Kasindi, claimed that before the bomb went off, worshipers had gathered for a baptism ritual.

"Several among us died on the spot, others had their feet cut in two," the 42-year-old said. "God saved me and I came out in good health with my choir members. Today was not the day I should die."

Fellow survivor Jean-Paul Syauswa said the explosion happened just after a group of people had been baptised, while a blind pastor was commenting on Bible verses.

"The bomb threw me at least 100 metres (yards) away," he said.

Jean-Paul Syauswa, a fellow survivor, claimed the explosion took place as a blind pastor was explaining a Bible text just after a group of people had been baptized.

"How can such a situation happen when Kasindi is full of soldiers?" Kivua said.

The blast was denounced by the DRC presidency and the UN peacekeeping operation, which called it a "cowardly and despicable attack."