Asia

Asia

Church bombing foiled in north Iraq

06 January 2011 20:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iraqi army and security forces have foiled an attempted bombing attack on a Christian church in the capital of the country’s violent Nineveh province, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The Iraqi army’s 2nd Division, in coordination with the national intelligence service, foiled on Thursday an attempt to bomb a church in central Mosul, Aswat al-Iraq news agency quoted a military source as saying.

The forces reportedly seized six improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two explosive belts prepared for detonation near the church.

The incident comes after a number of Christian houses were targeted with IEDs last week, in which one person was killed and nine more wounded.

The attacks were the most violent against Iraqi Christians since October 31, when an attack on the Sayidat al-Nejat Cathedral (Our Lady of Salvation Church) left 52 people dead and 60 others wounded.

Mounting violence against Christians in Iraq has forced them to leave their homes and head for the autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north or outside the country.

Muslim scholars and figures have repeatedly voiced concerns over terrorist attacks against followers of other religions in Iraq, Egypt and elsewhere.

They highlight Islam’s clear opposition to any move displaying disregard for human lives, regardless of the religion of those who fall victim to the attacks.