Forces loyal to Riek Machar Teny broke into the Malakal Catholic Cathedral and “looted all properties at gunpoint” during the latest attack on the city, the Catholic Radio Network reported today. 

A witness who preferred anonymity said ‘white army’ fighters jumped a fence and robbed belongings of people sheltering at the cathedral, then entered a residence on the compound and threatened people at gunpoint.

The source further told Catholic Radio Network that the gunmen were not satisfied with the money so they threatened to kill people in the cathedral, and also they were searching for one of the government leaders suspected to be inside the cathedral.

Francis Michael Ogwang, who works for Voice of Love, a church-operated radio station, told Gurtong news yesterday that he was not aware whether the station was destroyed because he did not visit it yet. The station continues to be off-air.

Photo: Internally displaced people are gathered in a Catholic church in Malakal, South Sudan, January 21, 2014. (Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)