Bombs on Christmas kill dozens of Iraqi Christians
BAGHDAD — At least 37 people were killed in three bombings in Christian areas of Baghdad on Wednesday, including a car bomb that exploded as worshippers were leaving a Christmas service, Iraqi police and medics said.
Elsewhere in Iraq, at least 10 people were killed in three attacks that targeted police and Shiite Muslim pilgrims, police said.
Iraq is enduring its deadliest violence in years, reviving memories of the sectarian bloodshed between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that killed tens of thousands in 2006-07.
On Wednesday, the day’s deadliest incident occurred in the Dora district of southern Baghdad when a car bomb went off as Christians were emerging from Mass, killing at least 26 people.
Shortly before, two bombs in a crowded market in a separate, mostly Christian area of Dora killed another 11 people.
Ahmed Edan, a policeman on duty in the area of the attacks, said the sound
U.S. condemns violence
WASHINGTON — The State Department condemned the Christmas bombings on Christians in Iraq, the latest attacks in what analysts believe is an effort to drive Christians out of Iraq and sharpen ethnic tensions.
About 1.5 million Christians lived in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003; the number has since dwindled to about half that, and Christians continue to emigrate.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said the Christian community in Iraq “has suffered deliberate and senseless targeting by terrorists for many years, as have other Iraqis.” It said it “condemns in the strongest terms” the attacks.
No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Muslim terrorist groups such as al-Qaida are widely believed responsible for most of the attacks on Christians. The Christians who remain attend churches protected by heavy barricades and other security measures.
The Shiite Muslim-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has made some gestures to try to reassure Christians of their continuing place in Iraq, including making Christmas a national holiday. of the first the two explosions caused worshippers to leave the church.
“A car parked near the church exploded when the families were hugging each other goodbye before leaving. The blast was powerful,” he said.
“Bodies of women, girls and men were lying on the ground covered in blood.
of Others were screaming and crying while they were trying to save some of their wounded relatives.”
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks in Baghdad, which left at least 52 people injured.
More than 8,000 people have been killed this year, according to the United Nations.