Search icon

News

21st Nov 2018

Indigenous tribe shoots dead American missionary after he ignored ban on contact

John Allen Chau was attacked by the indigenous islanders

Oli Dugmore

John Allen Chau was attacked by the indigenous islanders

An American missionary was shot dead by an indigenous tribe on a remote Indian island.

It’s reported John Allen Chau, a 27-year-old man from Vancouver, Washington, tried to convert the islanders to Christianity but the tribe has shunned attempts at contact in the past.

Chau was transported to the Andaman Islands by fishermen but they fled after he was attacked.

The Sentinelese tribe cannot be prosecuted for the crime, as laws prevent them from being contacted to try and limit exposure to disease.

It is therefore illegal to interact with the islanders. Even the Indian Navy cannot contact them.

According to International Christian Concern, Chau was a Christian missionary who wanted to interact with members of the Sentinelese tribe.

The local police are investigating the case, citing “unknown tribesmen” as the suspects.

The US consulate in Chennai is reportedly aware of the case.