A senior Church leader has called for an end to violence in northern Mozambique after a historic church was destroyed in a jihadist attack.

Archbishop Inácio Saure of Nampula said “the destruction and the killing” must cease, following the assault on St Louis de Montfort Church in Minhoene village, Cabo Delgado Province.

He added: “Let the incitement of hatred against Christians cease – and may we not allow space for Islamophobia either, because Muslims are not our enemies, they are our beloved brethren.”

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) said militants linked to Islamic State Central Africa Province attacked the parish last Thursday. No deaths were reported, but the church, priests’ residence and offices were burned, and a preschool was vandalised.

Bishop António Juliasse of Pemba described “a scene of terror”.

"Homes, infrastructure, all destroyed, and the historic parish reduced to rubble," he added. "Civilians were captured and forced to watch and listen to speeches of hatred.”

Founded in 1946, the parish was one of the few Catholic centres in the predominantly Muslim area. The missionary priests were not present and are safe, but the community remains in shock.

Mozambique’s Islamist insurgency, which began in 2017, has killed more than 6,300 people and displaced at least one million. At least 118 churches have been destroyed.

Bishop António called for global support, adding: “The faith of God’s people will never burn – every day it is rebuilt.”