Naharnet

Explosion Targets Central Nigeria Church, 3 Killed

A car laden with explosives detonated outside of a Catholic church Sunday in a restive city in central Nigeria, killing at least three people and injuring others, a rescue official said.

The blast happened Sunday morning outside of St. Sinba's Catholic Church in the city of Jos.

The bomber was apparently stopped before his car entered the church's compound, a rescue official said. It was unclear whether the church service was going on at the time of the attack.

Plateau state spokesman Pam Ayuba said authorities were aware the blast happened and were trying to secure the area and investigate the apparent attack.

No group immediately claimed responsibility though the city has been targeted in the past by a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

This is just the latest attack targeting a church in Jos, where thousands have died in the last decade in violence pitting Christians and Muslims against each other.

A failed raid Thursday by British and Nigerian commandos that left a Briton and an Italian hostage dead in Nigeria's far northwest opened a new front on Nigeria's ongoing struggle with terrorism, showing any region across its north can be attacked — and anyone, including foreigners, could be targeted.

Source: Agence France Presse


Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/32954