(Lemoyne) -- The leader of a midstate-based Christian organization that operates a hospital in Afghanistan where three people were shot dead by a security guard says he does not believe the shootings were motivated by religion.

Dale Brantner is CEO of Cure International, which is headquartered in Lemoyne, Cumberland County.

He says Christians with strong beliefs are generally respected in the Muslim world.

Brantner says Thursday's shootings and other recent deadly attacks seem more political than religious.

He says the Cure hospital in Kabul has operated for 12 years as an "unapologetically Christian'' facility that annually helps about 37,000 poor children with serious conditions.

Bratner says he's morning the death of Dr. Jerry Umanos, who specialized in treating premature babies at the hospital. He says he has no information on the other two victims.