Salvation Army's Pakistan Commander Killed

Salvation Army’s Territorial Commander, Bo Brekke, was shot dead on September 27 at the territorial headquarters compound in Lahore.

Colonel Bo Brekke (50), a Norwegian was killed shortly after he had chaired a meeting and returned alone to his office, in the early hours of the evening.

The police said, the death is supposed to be an individual act of criminality and nothing related to terrorism. Lahore police reported of a man being arrested on possibly related charges. His motive was not immediately clear, although investigators suggested the suspect had no links to a terror network.

The colonel's wife, Colonel Birgitte Brekke, was in London at the time, attending meetings at International Headquarters (IHQ).

Bo & Birgitte Brekke previously worked as Territorial leaders of the Salvation Army South Asia region, to mention Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in particular. In September 2006, one year later, they took over the command in Pakistan.

Salvation Army works in 111 countries, involving more than 1.5 million Salvationists and 100,000 employees.

Meanwhile, the funeral of Colonel Brekke will be conducted in Oslo, Norway by the Salvation Army General Shaw Clifton.

"Colonel Bo Brekke was a Salvation Army leader of unusual and distinctive talents. Both he and his wife, Colonel Birgitte Brekke, were known for their hearts of compassion towards the marginalised," a Christian news quoted General Clifton as saying.

The incident comes shocking amid growing concerns about attacks and threats against Christians in Pakistan. Last month, a Christian Bishop and wife was shot dead in the country.