The EDF then looted Hagere Selam during two days, including Nyssen's house, from which his fridge, bed, clothes, plastic basins and other goods were stolen.

[2] Typical massacres committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in the Tigray war are (1) revenge when they lose a battle; (2) to terrorise and extract information about whereabouts of TPLF leaders; (3) murder of suspected family members of TDF fighters;[3] and (4) terrorising the Tigray society as a whole such as in case of mass killings in churches.

[4] According to Europe External Programme with Africa (EEPA), the executions are interpreted as revenge for the EDF having lost a battle against Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) forces.

[5] The inhabitants interpreted the identity of the perpetrators as Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers.

[6] The “Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation” mentions 23 victims,[1] of which 21 have been identified.