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Al-Qaeda blamed for Iraq church attacks

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  • Al-Qaeda blamed for Iraq church attacks

    ITV.com, UK
    Aug 2 2004

    Al-Qaeda blamed for Iraq church attacks
    7.05AM, Mon Aug 2 2004


    Al-Qaeda is being blamed for the bombing of four churches in Baghdad
    which killed at least ten worshippers.

    More than 40 others were injured in the co-ordinated attacks which
    the Iraqi government said were an attempt to force Christians out of
    the country.

    The Vatican condemned the blasts - the first attacks on churches
    during the 15-month insurgency - echoing concerns among Iraqis that
    they aimed to inflame religious tensions.

    In the deadliest attack, a suicide car bomber drove into the car park
    of a Chaldean church in southern Baghdad before detonating his
    vehicle, killing at least ten people as worshippers left the
    building.

    The US military has warned that guerrillas opposed to the presence of
    more 160,000 foreign troops may try to deepen divisions between the
    country's diverse religious communities in their campaign to
    destabilise Iraq.

    Vatican deputy spokesman Father Ciro Benedettini said: "It is
    terrible and worrying because it is the first time that Christian
    churches are being targeted in Iraq."

    An explosion at the Armenian church in Baghdad shattered stained
    glass windows and hurled chunks of hot metal. Another bomb exploded
    15 minutes later at a nearby Assyrian church.

    US Colonel Mike Murray of the 1st Cavalry Division said at least 50
    people had been wounded at the church, some seriously.

    In Mosul, officials said at least one person was killed in a blast at
    a church and 15 wounded.
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