Vietnam: two priests seriously assaulted by police

Two priests in Vietnam's central coastal city of Dong Hoi are in a critical condition after being beaten by plain-clothed police and government security men.

On Sunday morning (July 26), Fr Paul Nguyen Dinh Phu, parish priest of Du Loc was beaten up by a group of men on his way to celebrate Mass in Tam Toa parish.

The attack took place on the day that 500,000 Catholics in Vinh Diocese and neighbouring dioceses held peaceful protests throughout 19 deaneries, demanding justice for victims who had been assaulted by police in Tam Toa parish on Monday 20 July.

 Another priest, Fr Peter Nguyen The Binh, pastor of Ha Loi, went with Tran Cong Thuat, deputy governor of Quang Binh, to visit Fr Paul Nguyen in hospital.

At the hospital, after Thuat withdrew, a gang assaulted Fr Peter and threw him from the second floor of the building.
Last night Fr Peter was said to be in a coma and in a critical condition.