Churches bombed in Iraq

2004-08-01 19:10

Baghdad, Iraq - A series of co-ordinated explosions rocked five churches across Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, injuring about 60 people in the first attacks targeting the country's Christian minority since the 15-month violent insurgency here began.

Unconfirmed reports say at least five people died in one of the blasts.

Two explosions just minutes apart shook separate Baghdad churches in a largely Christian neighbourhood during Sunday evening services, and two other blasts struck outside a church in Mosul at roughly the same time, Iraqi officials said.

Two churches in other areas of Baghdad were hit as well on Sunday evening, officials said.

US military officials in Baghdad's Karada neighbourhood, where the first two churches were bombed, said they found a third bomb in front another church that had not exploded.

Karada is home to many of the city's Christians and many of its churches.

"We were in the Mass and suddenly we heard a big boom, and I couldn't feel my body anymore, I didn't feel anything," said Marwan Saqiq, who was covered in blood. "I saw people taking me out with the wood and glass shattered everywhere."

Booby trapped cars

US military officials said at least one and possibly both of the blasts appeared to have come from booby trapped cars.

The explosions in Baghdad injured between 50 and 55 people, according to US colonel, Mike Murray. The blasts in Mosul wounded four, said US military spokesperson Angela Bowman.

In Mosul, a car bomb blew up next to a Catholic church while worshippers were coming out of Mass, police spokesperson Raed Abdel Basit said. Several rocket-propelled grenades were also launched at the church, Bowman said.

A bridge in Mosul was hit as well, Bowman said.

Interior ministry spokesperson Sabah Kadhim said a total of four churches were hit in Baghdad, two in Karada, one in the Dora neighbourhood and one in New Baghdad.

At the site of the two blasts in Karada, Iraqi police and National Guard cordoned off the area. Fire engines and ambulances raced to the scene.

The first blast in Baghdad hit outside an Armenian church just 15 minutes into the evening service, witnesses said. The second blast hit a Catholic church about 500m away.

Stunned Iraqis ran away from the scene, holding their bleeding heads in their hands.

Massive plumes of black smoke poured into the evening sky over the city and US helicopter gunships circled above.

Numbering about 750%nbsp;000, the minority Christians were already concerned about the growing tide of Islamic fundamentalism, so long repressed under Saddam Hussein.

- AP