IS abducts dozens of Syrian Christian families

Islamic State militants have abducted dozens of Christian families after seizing a strategically located town in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitor said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 230 people were kidnapped, including dozens of Christians, some taken from a church in Qaryatain, the town captured overnight after heavy fighting with the Syrian army. Qaryatain is near a road linking the ancient city of Palmyra to the Qalamoun mountains, along the Lebanese border.

Islamic State has killed members of religious minorities and Sunni Muslims who do not swear allegiance to its “caliphate”. They consider Christians as infidels.