Four bombs blast targeting Christian churches in Baghdad (Updated)
Four bombs targeted at Christian churches blasted in Baghdad Sunday, killing four and wounding 29, police source said.
Editor’s Note: UPDATE
A fifth bomb attacked the Marr Youssef Church in Al-Dora (south Baghdad).
The roadside bomb was planted in the immediate vicinity of the church four people were wounded in this explosion.
The police source, on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that three roadside bombs were detonated "at almost the same time" near Christian churches in districts of Al-Wehda and Al-Tehriyat in central Baghdad, and in Al-Ghedir district of southeast Baghdad, wounding eight people and seriously damaged the churches.
Separately, another car bomb was detonated near a Christian church in the Palestinian street, central Baghdad, killing four people and wounding 21 others. It’s still unclear whether Christians were among the victims.
Recent attacks appear to have been intentionally targeting different ethnic groups, and analysts believe people behind these incidents were aimed at reigniting ethnic and sectarian conflicts.
Christians in the mainly Muslim Iraq are a minority group, and they have been from time to time targeted for attacks, particularly in Baghdad and northern provinces.
Iraqi security forces started to guard their towns and cities since July, after U.S. combat troops have pulled out according to the Status of Forces Agreement. Both Iraq and U.S. officials have warned that more attacks could happen, testing abilities of Iraqi security forces.
Four bombs blast targeting Christian churches in Baghdad – People’s Daily Online
