Death Toll from Iraqi Church Siege Shoots Up to 52

The Christian Post ^ | November 1, 2010 | Aaron J Leichman

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Deputy Interior Minister Lt. General Hussein Kamal reported the latest figures, which nearly doubled initial figures, on Monday, saying that the toll only included hostages and police officers, not the militants behind siege of Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad.

Initial reports put the number of gunmen at around a dozen – at least five of which were killed along with the others when some of the explosives they were carrying went off.

The explosion occurred as security officers stormed the church around 9 p.m. to bring to an end the roughly four-hour standoff.

The ten or so militants had stormed the church around 5 p.m. wearing suicide vests after attacking the Baghdad Stock Market in the central part of the Iraqi capital earlier in the day.

In total about 120 churchgoers were taken hostage by the al Qaida-linked terrorists as they were holding service Sunday

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Since the attack, Islamic State of Iraq has claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement posted on a radical Islamic website. It also said it would "exterminate Iraqi Christians" if Muslim women are not freed within 48 hours from ministries and churches run by the Christian Coptic church in Egypt.

[Robe]

Someone want to remind me again that we’re not in a religious war ????

[Eagles6]

"commander zero" couldn't wait to insert himself, on the side of muslims, into the ground zero mosque and the koran burning fiascoes.

How much do you want to bet he won't even mention this?

[jwparkerjr]

WE'RE not in a religious war. Our adversaries are, but we aren't and until we get off our high horse and treat the threat and it causes for what they really are we're just going to go on losing, battle by battle.

It's mental illness to think that you can avoid a threat by simply refusing to call it what it is and recognize it as a threat.

I am just so fed up with Islam and all of its sordid practices and beliefs. It's a spawn of Satan, pure and simple. And part of dealing with it successfully means putting so much heat on the ‘moderate’ ones that they have no choice but to declare a side to support and then come down on that side 100 percent. The militants are using the ‘moderates’ as just another weapon in their arsenal, just as they are using the liberals in our own country.

And don't think for an instant they aren't getting aid and comfort by the disgraceful behavior of Obama. He knows full well what he's doing and every thing he does is done for a reason. We can argue all day about his motives, but his goals are in the best interest of the country who foolishly elected him.

[Captain Kirk]

I’m “fed up” with the Islamistic pro-Iran government in Iraq which we installed which has imposed Sharia and cleansed half the Christian population. We are we still there enabling it to continue its dirty work?

[Kharis13]

Let me connect some dots here:

Satan created Islam.

Muslims follow Islam.

Satan, the aforementioned creator of Islam, is powerless against Christ-—thus he will stay in a constant state of agitation.

Muslims seem to be in a constant state of agitation. Hmmm...

I don’t know when Christ will return, but I do know the Devil will get more and more agitated and vicious as the time draws near. Put on the armor of God.

Kharis13

[Robe]

Thank you, I knew someone could bring clarity to the situation ....

[johngrace]

How many Christians no matter the type go into a Mosque pull a strapped bomb pack in the name of Jesus to kill dozens of people. Who is the author of confusion. Who is a murderer from the beginning.