WAR: Multiple Explosions in Iraq, At Least 12 Dead

Car bombs exploded in two cities in Iraq on Sunday evening, most targeting Christian churches. The first occured in Baghdad next to an Armenian church while an evening service was ongoing, and the second occured approximately 15 minutes later near an Assyrian church. Simultaneously, a third explosion occured near a Christian church in Mosul. Additional blasts in Baghdad and Mosul have ocurred. Preliminary reports are indicating at least 2 dead and 20 injured.

In all locations, it appears that these were not suicide attacks, but were perpetuated by cars loaded with explosives set on timers.
At this time, 4 churches in Baghdad, 2 churches in Mosul, and a key bridge in Mosul have been struck by car bombs.
There are unconfirmed reports of additional bombings in Mosul in the last several minutes.





The first two explosions occured in a middle-class neighborhood in central Baghdad that has a large Christian population. Police were attempting to cordon off the second car when it exploded.

Earlier in the day a suicide car bomb attack took place near a police station in Mosul, and a roadside bomb was set off in Baghdad.

Two Earlier Attacks



The past week has been the bloodiest period since the interim Iraqi government took power.

[edit on 8-2-2004 by Valhall]

Jihad.

Just another step in this ever escalating cycle of events.

Theres conflicting reports...

They hit a church and then hit the recovery teams after it...

or

They hit a church and the nearby national theatre.

I've heard theres a lot of casualties though.

There have now been explosions - believed to be car bombs - at 3 Christian churches in 2 cities in Iraq.

Conflicting reports about a 4th location that may be a mosque.

The latest "official" count is 2 dead, 20+ injured.

EDIT: 4 churches in Baghdad, 1 church in Mosul.


[edit on 1-8-2004 by Banshee]

Fox News is now saying 5 Christian churches were bombed. Four were in Baghdad and one in Mosul

Fearing Islamic government, Christians leaving Iraq

Islam has been the dominant religion in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley for 1,400 years. Christians have been there for two millenniums and maintain a quiet presence today in what is now Iraq.

Estimates of Iraq�s Christian population range from 600,000 to 800,000 -- roughly 3 percent of the overall population of 25 million. No one knows for sure.

Christians, who practiced with relative freedom under Saddam Hussein, are leaving -- or trying to leave -- out of fear that a Muslim-dominated government will control Iraq, said the Rev. Jean Benjamin Sleiman, Latin-rite (Roman Catholic) archbishop of Baghdad.

further, not much info yet
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Two car bombs exploded just minutes apart outside two nearby churches in central Baghdad during Sunday evening services, injuring at least 20 people, witnesses said.

The attacks appeared to be the first targeting churches during the 15-month violent insurgency.

U.S. military officials said at least one and possible both of the blasts appeared to have been booby-trapped cars in the city's Karada neighborhood.
www.guardian.co.uk...

Sanc'.

4 churches in Baghdad attacked - CONFIRMED

2 churches in Mosul attacked - CONFIRMED

1 "key bridge" in Mosul attacked - CONFIRMED

The churches in Mosul were empty. It's unknown right now if the churches in Baghdad were occupied.

There are casualties, just no numbers at this time.

CNN report quoted as saying "absolute mayhem on baghdad streets"

Pictures look terrible. Maybe up to 50 dead now.

Latest Target List:
from Fox News, confirmed by "senior military official"

Four (4) Christian churches in Baghdad
Two (2) Christian churches in Mosul
One (1) Bridge in Mosul unconfirmed


all of the attacks were carried out with car bombs

Maybe there were coalition soldiers in the churches and the enemy was forced to bomb them.

umm why is this in the UFO/alien topic??

Originally posted by sugeshotcha
umm why is this in the UFO/alien topic??

ATSNN articles/threads appear in all the forums.

The three visions of Fatima : the reality of hell ...



... the genocide of christians ... announced in advance. One month ago ... as 87 years ago.

The Assyrian Church, known officially as the Assyrian Church of the East, is the oldest continually existing church in the world. Assyrians are the only people in the world who still speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ.

www.christianpost.com...

It is the first time that Christian churches are being targeted in Iraq.

two in Karada:
an Armenian church and 15 minutes later outside the nearby Catholic church

one church in the Dora neighborhood and

a Chaldean church in southern Baghdad.

In Mosul, about 350 kilometers (220 miles), a car bomb blew up next to a Catholic church

A bridge in Mosul was also hit.




[edit on 1-8-2004 by Riwka]

Originally posted by taibunsuu
Maybe there were coalition soldiers in the churches and the enemy was forced to bomb them.

Umm... nope no reports of US or British soldiers killed. Also they were �forced� to bomb them? Nothing gives them the right to kill people, especially when they are at church. They say they do it in the name of their god... damn barbarians!

AP reported, most of the wounded are women and children.

There seems to be an attempt to heighten tensions by trying to affect all social groups, including churches.

I find it quite interesting that CNN is consistently reporting this as the "first attack against christian churches in Iraq."

Why not just say it's an attack? Sure, perhaps it's technically the first to include four churches - but it seems deliberately spun to suggest two things IMO,

1. That attacks by musilims against christians was and is "expected".

2. This is only the "first" act of religious terrorism, as in "only the beginning". The spin certainly suggests more to follow.

It does seem that the media is purposefully fomenting aggression between christian / muslim relations.

[edit on 1-8-2004 by bunkbuster]

I just want to add before anyone attempts at even suggesting it, that this war is over greed and oil and always will be, no matter how the war mongerers want to spin it, it is NOT a religious war.

this war is over greed and oil and always will be

Are you sure the Islamic radicals agreee with your thoughts?

Numbering some 750,000, the minority Christians in Iraq were already concerned about the growing tide of Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic radicals have warned Christians running liquor stores to shut down their businesses, and have turned their sights on fashion stores and beauty salons.