Posted on 08/01/2004 10:31:44 AM PDT by bunkerhill7
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A series of coordinated 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.
Two explosions just minutes apart shook separate Baghdad churches in a largely Christian neighborhood 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 Sunday evening, officials said.
US military officials in Baghdad's Karada neighborhood, 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."
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 wounded between 50 and 55 people, according to US Col. Mike Murray. The blasts in Mosul wounded four, according Capt. Angela Bowman, a US military spokeswoman.
In Mosul, about 350 kilometers (220 miles), a car bomb blew up next to a Catholic church while worshippers were coming out of Mass, police Maj. Raed Abdel Basit said. Several rocket-propelled grenades were also launched at the church, Bowman said.
The bomb, inside a white Toyota, blew up about 7 p.m. just meters from the church, said Ghaleb Wadeea, 50-year-old engineer who lives next door. Debris from the exploded car were scattered about the site, with some hanging off a nearby electricity post.
A bridge in Mosul was also hit, Bowman said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Sabah Kadhim said a total of four churches were hit in Baghdad, two in Karada, one in the Dora neighborhood 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 500 meters (yards) away.
Stunned Iraqis ran away from the scene, holding their bleeding heads in their hands.
"I saw wounded women and children and men, the church's glass shattered everywhere. There's glass all over the floor," said Juliette Agob, who was inside the Armenian church during the first explosion.
The back wall of the Catholic church, where a bomb had been placed, was badly damaged, with bricks scattered about, revealing the graves from a cemetery behind the building. The bomb left a hole 2.5 meters wide in the ground.
US soldiers and Iraqi police patrolled the area as emergency workers raced to evacuate the wounded.
Will this day be known as KrystalNacht?
I'd call it a hate crime . . .
. . . but then the entire current war of Islamic agression is founded, fueled, and fed on hate.
This is AlQuada's warning to Italy. They have given Italy a week or so to withdraw from Iraq.
My guess is a threat on one of the major cathedrals. Hitting the Vatican would be suicide.
Why?
To be crass and Stalinst "How many divisions has the Pope?"
Seriously, why would it be suicide to attack the Vatican?
I hope they don't, if that's not clear.
The Vatican is the repository of Western History, Art, and Civilization besides being the spiritual home of one billion Catholics.
Imagine Mecca and Medina being nuked.
Swiss guards.
Indeed it would be terrible if something happened to it. I'm questioning whether there would be any retaliation.
Why?
How would the Vatican retaliate effectively?
Are you deliberately being coy?
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