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California Police Officer Killed, Another Injured in Baldwin Park Shooting; Suspect in Custody

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California Police Officer Killed, Another Injured in Baldwin Park Shooting; Suspect in Custody

BALDWIN PARK, Calif.  — A Baldwin Park police officer was shot and killed, and another wounded, during a violent confrontation in a Los Angeles-area neighborhood on Saturday evening. Authorities have arrested a suspect in what investigators are now calling a double homicide.

According to police, officers responded to reports of gunfire and a person down around 7 p.m. on the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue. The caller indicated an active shooter was armed with a rifle.

Upon arrival, officers were met with gunfire. One officer was fatally shot, and a second was hospitalized in stable condition, officials said. A second victim — an adult male civilian — was found dead at the scene.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, whose department is leading the investigation, said the suspect, an adult male, allegedly fired first at responding officers. He was shot in the exchange of gunfire and later taken to the hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

Authorities confirmed they believe the same suspect is responsible for both homicides and have recovered the weapon used in the attack.

“This is a double murder investigation,” Luna said at a late-night press briefing. “This tragedy strikes not just at law enforcement but at our entire community.”

Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez grew emotional as he paid tribute to the slain officer during a news conference early Sunday.

“Our officer was an amazing man,” Lopez said. While the officer’s identity was not immediately released to allow for full family notification, the chief shared personal details about his character.

“He loved snowboarding. He was a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and traveled around the country to watch them play,” Lopez said. “He brought joy and dedication to this department and to the people he served.”

The second officer injured in the shootout remains hospitalized in stable condition, officials said. Details on his identity and the extent of his injuries were not disclosed.

The Baldwin Park shooting adds to a growing number of incidents involving violence against law enforcement officers in the United States. The deadly confrontation has drawn an outpouring of grief and support from community members, local officials, and fellow law enforcement agencies.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has taken over the investigation as officials work to determine the motive behind the attack and whether the suspect had prior contact with either victim.

More details are expected in the coming days as authorities continue gathering evidence and notifying next of kin.

 Russia Could Strike NATO Before 2029, German Defense Chief Warns

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 Russia Could Strike NATO Before 2029, German Defense Chief Warns

SINGAPORE  — Russia may launch a military assault against NATO as early as 2029, or possibly even sooner, Germany’s chief of defense warned Sunday, urging the Western alliance to bolster readiness amid growing threats.

Speaking to the BBC on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, General Carsten Breuer said Russia’s accelerated military production, including up to 1,500 tanks annually and millions of artillery rounds, suggests the Kremlin could be preparing for a broader confrontation with NATO, potentially targeting Baltic state members.

“We must be ready by 2029,” Gen. Breuer cautioned. “But is that a guarantee it won’t be sooner? No. We must be able to fight tonight.”

General Breuer described the situation as the gravest threat to NATO he has witnessed in his four decades of service. Russia, he said, is not only reinforcing its war effort in Ukraine but also stockpiling weapons and structuring new military units aimed westward.

In 2024 alone, Moscow reportedly manufactured four million rounds of 152mm artillery munitions, with significant portions reserved outside the Ukrainian battlefield, raising concerns about potential future operations.

“There’s an intent, and there’s a buildup of stocks,” Breuer warned. Analysts believe that by 2029, Russia could possess enough conventional strength to strike NATO territory, particularly through the vulnerable Suwalki Gap, which connects Lithuania and Poland and borders Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave.

The German general emphasized the need for NATO nations to rapidly expand their defense capacities, pointing to a disparity in threat perception between Eastern and Western Europe.

“The Estonians compare their proximity to Russia to being next to a wildfire — they feel the heat, see the flames, and smell the smoke,” he said. “In Germany, we might only see a bit of smoke on the horizon.”

He urged NATO to act decisively: “We must lean in. We need to ramp up our military capabilities — not just for defense, but also for deterrence.”

Breuer cited recent cyberattacks on European infrastructure, including undersea cables in the Baltic Sea and drone sightings over German power plants, as part of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy aimed at testing NATO’s resilience.

Asked about internal fractures in the alliance, particularly Hungary and Slovakia’s warmer ties with Moscow, Gen. Breuer remained confident in NATO’s cohesion.

“I’ve never seen such unity,” he said, pointing to the recent accession of Finland and Sweden as proof of NATO’s strength. “All member states and military leaders understand the urgency. We’re aligned in direction — toward collective defense.”

His remarks come weeks ahead of a key NATO summit in The Hague, where leaders are expected to debate increased defense budgets and strategic military planning.

Gen. Breuer’s statements underscore a broader shift in Germany’s military doctrine, which for decades prioritized diplomacy and scaled-back defense spending. In recent months, even historically pacifist political factions such as the Green Party have supported lifting restrictions on military funding.

However, significant challenges remain. Western defense industries lack the speed and scale of Russian production, and U.S. strategic focus is pivoting toward the Indo-Pacific, raising questions about Europe’s ability to independently defend itself.

As General Breuer emphasized, “Russia sees the war in Ukraine as part of a wider conflict with NATO. We must take that seriously — and prepare accordingly.”

 Small Plane Crashes Off Connecticut Coast, Two Survivors Rescued from Long Island Sound

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 Small Plane Crashes Off Connecticut Coast, Two Survivors Rescued from Long Island Sound

NEW HAVEN, Conn.  — A small aircraft plunged into the Long Island Sound off the Connecticut coast Sunday morning, prompting a rapid emergency response that led to the rescue of both occupants, authorities said.

The Piper PA-32 took off from Bridgeport-Sikorsky Airport around 10:30 a.m. and went down roughly ten minutes later, according to officials. The pilot had reported an emergency shortly after departure and was directed to divert to Tweed New Haven Airport, where the aircraft was expected to attempt an emergency landing.

Instead, the plane crashed approximately six miles off the coast of New Haven, submerging into the water shortly after the distress call.

Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney said the pilot was able to transmit his coordinates moments before the plane sank. “The Coast Guard, along with Branford Fire Department Marine 5, arrived on location and successfully recovered both individuals from the water,” Mahoney said.

According to Tweed Regional Airport, the aircraft was roughly eight miles away when the pilot declared an emergency. In a statement posted to Facebook, the airport said its control tower and ground crews immediately initiated emergency protocols and alerted federal and local responders.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that both individuals aboard the aircraft were rescued and suffered only minor injuries, including cuts to their hands and faces. They were transported to a local hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.

“They were wet, cold, and had minor lacerations,” said a Coast Guard spokesperson. The New Haven Fire Department also assisted in the recovery, with crews reaching the victims approximately six miles offshore.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a preliminary investigation into the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is still gathering information and waiting for recovery efforts to be completed before determining the scope of its investigation.

“The NTSB is aware and collecting details, but we are currently awaiting the full recovery to decide on next steps,” an NTSB spokesperson told the Hartford Courant.

Tweed New Haven Airport expressed relief in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “We are deeply relieved that both individuals were safely recovered and extend our sincere gratitude to all federal, state, and local responders for their swift and coordinated response.”

Man Fatally Shot After Opening Fire on German Police Near Czech Border

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Man Fatally Shot After Opening Fire on German Police Near Czech Border

BERLIN  — A 47-year-old Iranian man was fatally shot by German police near the Czech border after he opened fire during a routine vehicle check, Bavarian authorities said Sunday.

The incident unfolded Saturday afternoon on a road between Schirnding and Münchenreuth, close to Germany’s southeastern border. Officers from the federal police had stopped the man’s vehicle for inspection when the situation escalated.

According to a statement from Bavarian police, the driver exited the car and immediately opened fire on the officers. Police returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, who died at the scene. No officers were reported injured.

Authorities identified the man as an Iranian national who had been residing in the Mannheim region of southwestern Germany for several years. He was traveling alone at the time of the shooting.

Police believe the suspect had just returned from the Czech Republic, allegedly to purchase drugs. Officers found a “low three-digit gram” quantity of crystal methamphetamine in the car, suggesting a drug-trafficking motive.

Bavarian police have launched a full investigation into the cross-border shooting and potential links to narcotics trafficking. Forensic teams were dispatched to the scene to collect evidence, and autopsy results are pending.

Authorities have not yet determined whether the man had prior criminal convictions or was under surveillance for suspected drug activity.

The fatal encounter adds to growing concerns in the region about drug smuggling across the Germany-Czech border, a known corridor for methamphetamine distribution.

Ukraine Destroys 40 Russian Warplanes in Covert Drone Strike Ahead of Istanbul Peace Talks

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Ukraine Destroys 40 Russian Warplanes in Covert Drone Strike Ahead of Istanbul Peace Talks

KYIV, Ukraine  — Ukraine destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft in a dramatic and highly coordinated drone strike deep inside Russian territory, officials in Kyiv said Sunday, just hours before a new round of peace talks in Istanbul between the warring nations.

According to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the attack struck multiple Russian military airfields on Sunday afternoon and crippled a key portion of Moscow’s airstrike capabilities. A Ukrainian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said the operation took more than 18 months to plan and was personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The operation, codenamed “Web”, involved the covert smuggling of FPV (first-person view) drones into Russia, where they were hidden in mobile wooden shelters and mounted onto trucks disguised as homes. At the chosen moment, the shelters’ roofs were remotely opened and the drones were launched toward their targets.

“These drones were camouflaged until the moment of launch. Once airborne, they targeted high-value aircraft with precision,” said the official.

Social media footage verified by Russian sources showed drones lifting from hidden containers as stunned bystanders attempted to stop them, with some even seen clambering onto the trucks in panic.

The SBU claimed the attack destroyed 41 Russian aircraft, including A-50 radar planes, Tu-95, and Tu-22M long-range bombers—the same types used by Russia to fire missiles at Ukrainian cities. If confirmed, the losses represent 34% of Russia’s long-range missile carrier fleet, with damage estimated at $7 billion.

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged the strikes, reporting damage and fires at bases in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions, some 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine. Additional drone attacks were repelled in Amur, Ivanovo, and Ryazan regions, the ministry added.

The dramatic escalation occurred just as President Zelenskyy confirmed a Ukrainian delegation would attend direct talks in Istanbul starting Monday. In a Telegram post, he said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would lead the team and reiterated Ukraine’s aim to protect its sovereignty and independence.

Ukrainian officials have demanded that Russia present a written memorandum of its peace position ahead of the talks, which the Kremlin has said it will bring to the table in Istanbul.

In retaliation, Russia launched a record-breaking 472 drones and seven missiles into Ukraine on Sunday, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat. A devastating missile strike hit a Ukrainian army training unit, killing 12 service members and injuring more than 60.

The attack occurred at 12:50 p.m., with no mass gatherings reported at the time. Mykhailo Drapatyi, a highly regarded Ukrainian commander, resigned after the strike. He had been instrumental in leading gains on the eastern front during Ukraine’s 2022 counteroffensive.

Russia also claimed it captured Oleksiivka, a village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, prompting mandatory evacuations in 11 nearby settlements. Ukraine’s top general Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian troops are focusing their offensive on Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, and the Sumy border zone.

In western Russia, two bridges collapsed and trains derailed overnight, killing seven people and injuring dozens. Russia’s Investigative Committee initially blamed explosions, but the term was later removed from official statements.

 Indonesia Quarry Collapse Kills 19, Triggers Search for Missing as Officials Probe Safety Failures

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 Indonesia Quarry Collapse Kills 19, Triggers Search for Missing as Officials Probe Safety Failures

CIREBON, Indonesia  — A deadly quarry collapse in Indonesia’s West Java province has left 19 people dead, eight injured, and six still missing, officials said Sunday, as search and rescue teams continue combing through the rubble in a race against time.

The collapse occurred Friday at an open-pit rock mining site in Cirebon, triggering a massive rescue response led by Basarnas, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency. The area, known for unstable soil and steep terrain, remains under threat of additional landslides, officials warned.

Local police have named two suspects in connection with the disaster, citing violations of environmental laws, failure to provide safety equipment, and gross negligence. Investigators allege that the quarry’s operating conditions failed to meet basic worker safety standards.

“The area is not safe for workers,” West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said in a statement posted to Instagram, criticizing the site’s safety measures as substandard.

According to Muhammad Wafid, chief of the Geological Agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, the collapse may have been caused by a combination of undercutting mining methods, steep cliff slopes, and abnormally high rainfall, which destabilized the already vulnerable site.

“Cirebon Regency is prone to soil movement, particularly during above-average precipitation,” Wafid said. He added that the mining method and geological instability likely contributed to the collapse.

The ministry has pledged to investigate the cause and conduct a thorough geological assessment to evaluate the risk of further landslides in the area.

Basarnas personnel remain at the site, navigating hazardous conditions to locate the remaining six missing workers. Wafid urged crews to suspend operations during and after heavy rains due to ongoing landslide risks, warning that unstable ground could bury responders during recovery efforts.

Despite dangerous terrain and unpredictable weather, rescuers pressed on through Sunday, using heavy machinery and manual tools to clear debris in hopes of reaching possible survivors.

The Cirebon quarry disaster has renewed concerns over mining safety and regulatory oversight in Indonesia, where accidents at small- and medium-scale extractive sites are not uncommon.

Authorities have vowed accountability for those responsible and pledged to strengthen safety protocols at mining operations across the country.

 2 Dead, Officer in Coma After PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Chaotic Across France

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 2 Dead, Officer in Coma After PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Chaotic Across France

PARIS  — Celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League title spiraled into tragedy across France, with two fans dead, a police officer in a coma, and hundreds injured during overnight unrest, authorities said Sunday.

What began as a jubilant night following PSG’s 5-0 victory over Inter Milan — securing the club’s first-ever Champions League crown — quickly descended into violence in several cities, despite a largely festive start under the illuminated Eiffel Tower.

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during street celebrations in Dax, a city in southwestern France, the national police confirmed. Meanwhile, a man in his 20s died in Paris when his scooter was struck by a car amid the fanfare. Both incidents are under investigation, according to the Interior Ministry.

In Coutances, in northwestern France, a police officer suffered severe eye injuries after being accidentally hit by fireworks during a local PSG gathering. He was placed in an artificial coma, according to police. In Paris alone, 192 injuries were reported, four of them serious, said Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.

On Sunday, PSG’s title-winning squad is expected to parade down the Champs-Elysees, with up to 110,000 fans allowed along the iconic boulevard. The event will be followed by a concert and official trophy presentation at the Parc des Princes, PSG’s home stadium in western Paris.

A large section of central Paris has been shut to traffic, and security is on high alert, impacting major events such as the nearby French Open. Thousands of officers have been deployed to maintain order, using tactics similar to Saturday’s crowd control operations.

Despite celebratory scenes at places like the Place de la Bastille, where fans climbed the historic column and danced through the night, tensions flared elsewhere.

Tear gas was deployed near Parc des Princes, and water cannons were used around the Arc de Triomphe to break up unruly crowds. Police reported 294 arrests by 2 a.m. Sunday, including 30 individuals who looted a shoe store on the Champs-Elysees. Two cars were torched, and four stores were looted, officials added.

The fire department was overwhelmed, with its emergency hotline saturated due to numerous garbage fires and other incidents during the chaos.

Nunez placed blame for the violence on “thousands of people who came to commit acts of violence” rather than celebrate PSG’s triumph. He noted the parallels with past unrest, such as the aftermath of France’s 2018 World Cup win, when similar scenes of vandalism followed national celebrations.

While many fans gathered peacefully to revel in PSG’s long-awaited European title, the events of the night underscored the volatile mix of sports euphoria and public disorder that French authorities have struggled to contain in major celebratory moments.

China Warns U.S. Not to ‘Play With Fire’ Over Taiwan After Hegseth’s Remarks at Singapore Summit

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China Warns U.S. Not to ‘Play With Fire’ Over Taiwan After Hegseth’s Remarks at Singapore Summit

SINGAPORE  — China has issued a stern warning to the United States, urging Washington not to “play with fire” over Taiwan, after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled China a “threat to the region” during a high-level speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday.

Hegseth accused China of actively preparing for military action to reshape the balance of power in Asia, including rehearsing a potential invasion of Taiwan. The defense secretary also urged U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific, particularly Australia, to increase defense spending in response to what he described as a “real and potentially imminent” threat from Beijing.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Hegseth’s remarks, stating that Taiwan is a domestic Chinese matter and cautioning the U.S. against using the island as a geopolitical tool. In a sharply worded statement, Beijing accused Washington of turning the Asia-Pacific region into a “powder keg” through its military posturing and alliance-building.

“The U.S. should not entertain illusions about using the Taiwan question as a bargaining chip to contain China, nor should it play with fire,” the ministry said, describing Hegseth’s comments as “inflammatory rhetoric.”

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province. While Beijing has vowed reunification — by force if necessary — Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects those claims, asserting that only the island’s 23 million people can decide their future.

China further accused Hegseth of “vilifying China with defamatory allegations” and pushing a Cold War-style bloc confrontation narrative. It said the U.S. has become the “most destabilizing factor” in the Asia-Pacific, citing the deployment of offensive weaponry and military assets across the region.

“Hegseth deliberately ignored the regional desire for peace and development, instead opting to promote Cold War thinking and stoke division,” the ministry said, confirming it had lodged a formal diplomatic protest with the United States.

The dispute over Taiwan comes amid a broader regional standoff, including the contested South China Sea, where China continues to clash diplomatically and at sea with several countries, most notably the Philippines. Maritime confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coastguards have become more frequent as both nations assert competing territorial claims.

China rejected U.S. accusations that it is threatening freedom of navigation in international waters, stating it has consistently advocated for dialogue and adheres to international law in protecting its maritime rights.

“The U.S. is the biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Beijing asserted in its statement.

In a notable diplomatic snub, China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, marking the first time since 2019 that a Chinese defense chief has skipped the annual forum — barring cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Beijing dispatched a lower-level delegation, signaling a cooling of military engagement with Washington.

The absence underscores simmering tensions between the world’s two largest economies, which are already locked in a bitter trade standoff that began under President Donald Trump and continues to reshape global economic and security dynamics.

 Israel Kills 32 Palestinians at US-Backed Gaza Aid Sites Amid Growing Outcry Over Humanitarian Deaths

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 Israel Kills 32 Palestinians at US-Backed Gaza Aid Sites Amid Growing Outcry Over Humanitarian Deaths

GAZA CITY  — Israeli forces killed at least 32 Palestinians and injured more than 200 others on Sunday as desperate civilians gathered for food at two controversial aid distribution sites in Gaza, capping a deadly opening week for the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The largest toll came in southern Rafah, where Israeli tanks opened fire on a crowd of thousands at an aid handout location, killing 31 people, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. Hours later, one more person was shot and killed near a separate food distribution point south of the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza City, the office reported on Telegram.

The GHF, launched with backing from the United States and Israel, has faced strong opposition from the United Nations and leading aid organizations, who accuse it of lacking neutrality and enabling Israel’s strategic objective of consolidating military control over Gaza.

Eyewitness Ibrahim Abu Saoud, 40, said Israeli forces fired on the crowd while people were still hundreds of meters from the military line. “We weren’t even close to them,” he told The Associated Press. “People were hit by gunfire everywhere… one young man died in front of me and we couldn’t help him.”

Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary said Palestinians were risking their lives for minimal rations. “They’re being killed while trying to get just one meal for their children,” she said, noting that the aid packages consisted of only basic items like a kilo of flour, a few cans of beans, and some pasta, insufficient for survival amid Gaza’s hunger crisis.

While the GHF insisted Israeli soldiers only fired “warning shots,” it denied reports of mass casualties, calling them “false reporting about deaths, mass injuries, and chaos.” The Israeli army, in a statement on Telegram, said it was “currently unaware of injuries caused by [Israeli] fire within the humanitarian aid distribution site” and that the matter remained under investigation.

The Gaza Government Media Office dismissed such claims, accusing Israel and the U.S. of orchestrating “mass death traps under the guise of aid.”

“What is happening is a systematic and malicious use of aid as a tool of war, employed to blackmail starving civilians and forcibly gather them in exposed killing points,” the statement said.

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society’s Bassam Zaqout, speaking from Gaza City, criticized the new GHF-managed aid system, which replaced over 400 local distribution points with just four centralized sites.

“This system is not designed for the people’s benefit. It excludes the elderly, the disabled, and it’s dangerously unmanageable,” Zaqout said.

Hamas, which governs the besieged Gaza Strip, called Sunday’s shootings a “blatant confirmation of premeditated intent”, holding Israel and the U.S. fully responsible for the killings.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) declared the incident a “full-fledged war crime”, urging international intervention to halt what it described as a “massacre” and calling for legal accountability.

Sunday’s deaths followed two earlier deadly incidents last week at separate aid locations near Rafah, where nine more Palestinians were killed in similar shootings. Critics say the GHF’s centralized distribution model exposes starving civilians to unnecessary risk in a militarized environment.

Gaza has been suffering under a severe blockade, partially eased only after more than two months of total restrictions that pushed over two million residents to the edge of famine.

Catholic Church Shuts Down Missions in Kenya’s Kerio Valley Following Priest’s Murder

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Catholic Church Shuts Down Missions in Kenya’s Kerio Valley Following Priest’s Murder

ELGEYO MARAKWET, Kenya  — The Catholic Church has suspended all missionary activities in Kenya’s volatile Kerio Valley, including the closure of the vital Chesongoch Mission Hospital, after the killing of a local priest by suspected bandits, church officials confirmed Friday.

In a statement dated May 30, 2025, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters announced the immediate cessation of services, citing escalating violence and the psychological trauma inflicted on church personnel.

“There has been high tension of insecurity causing mental, emotional, and psychological trauma to our sisters,” the statement read. It added that the deteriorating security situation has made it nearly impossible to operate, as staff flee for their lives.

The Chesongoch Mission Hospital, a critical lifeline for residents of Elgeyo Marakwet County, has been shuttered due to staff shortages and safety risks. The hospital, managed by the Catholic Church and staffed by dozens of lay personnel and nuns, served hundreds of people in the region, many of whom now face a healthcare vacuum.

The Catholic Church employs approximately 100 workers in its Kerio Valley operations, including medical personnel, clergy, and support staff. All have now been withdrawn.

“The safety of the sisters working in the region, employees, and those who visit the mission for services must be prioritized,” said the Missionary Benedictine Sisters.

The shutdown follows the recent murder of Father Alloys Bett, a priest at St. Mulumba Parish near Tot, who was ambushed and killed by suspected bandits. Father Bett was well known for his peace advocacy efforts in a region plagued by communal conflict and armed attacks.

He is set to be laid to rest next Tuesday.

His death has deepened the church’s concerns about the deteriorating security environment, prompting an urgent reassessment of the viability of maintaining a missionary presence in Kerio Valley.

The church emphasized that the closure is not only a protective measure but also a form of protest aimed at pressuring the Kenyan government to restore order and disarm civilians in the region.

“If the community does not consider our mission as essential to them, then there is no need for our presence,” the statement added, underscoring the church’s frustration and disappointment.

Local leaders and civil society groups have repeatedly appealed for a stronger state presence in Kerio Valley, a region long afflicted by inter-communal cattle rustling, banditry, and lawlessness.

The closure of the Chesongoch Mission Hospital leaves a significant gap in medical services for the area, with many residents depending entirely on the facility for healthcare access. Without immediate state intervention or replacement services, lives may be at risk, particularly among vulnerable populations.

The church’s departure from Kerio Valley marks one of the most severe responses yet by a religious institution to Kenya’s ongoing rural insecurity crisis.

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