Suicide Bomber Kills 2, Injures Scores in Nigeria Church Attack

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A suicide bomber who tried to ram an explosives-packed car into a church in Nigeria on Sunday killed a woman and a child while badly wounding dozens more, the Red Cross said.

The attacker targeted the St. John's Catholic Church in the northern city of Bauchi, where tight security was imposed after a wave church bombings claimed by the radical Islamist group Boko Haram.

Worshipers were being screened outside the building when the bomber approached, ramming his car into the line of people waiting to enter Sunday services, the head of the Red Cross in Bauchi state, Adamu Abubakar said.

"We have three dead in all, including the bomber, a woman and a child. Forty-eight others were seriously injured in the explosion," he told Agence France Presse. He said the church building was not damaged in the blast.

Officials said the attack occurred in the Wunti area of Bauchi city, capital of Bauchi state.

Suicide blasts targeting Christian Sunday services were a near weekly occurrence in Nigeria earlier this year, but the violence had ebbed recently.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the attack resembled those previously claimed by Boko Haram, blamed for killing more than 1,400 people in northern and central Nigeria since 2010.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a similar attack on June 3 in Bauchi city in which a suicide bomber tried to drive a vehicle packed with explosives into a church, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens more.

Since re-launching its insurgency in 2010, the group's attacks have grown increasingly deadly and sophisticated, including suicide bombings at the U.N. headquarters in Abuja and an office for one of the country's most prominent newspapers.

The deadliest attack so far was in Kano in January, when at least 185 people died in a series of coordinated bombings and shootings.

Muslims have often been its victims, but President Goodluck Jonathan warned that the group was seeking to spark a religious conflict with the series of attacks on Christians.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer, is divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

The government recently said it was engaging in back-channel talks in an effort to halt the violence.

A previous attempt at dialogue this year collapsed when a mediator quit over leaks to the media and a Boko Haram spokesman said they could not trust the government.

Boko Haram is believed to have several factions, including a hardcore Islamist wing.

Comments 7
Thumb phoenician 23 September 2012, 14:01

Boko haram is F***ing heartless attacking the house of God whilst people are praying and spreading love and peace to all.

Missing youssefhaddad 23 September 2012, 17:18

Killing innocent people in the name of islam should stop. Only Muslims could stop it.

Missing phillipo 23 September 2012, 18:22

I always thought that Islam was "the religion of peace". Why are they making me think again?

Missing helicopter 23 September 2012, 19:56

Those who are seeking the international rule prohibiting the insult (verbal crimes)of religion, should first seek international laws prohibiting acts of violence (physical termination) against religions.

Default-user-icon where is the rage from arab leaders? (Guest) 23 September 2012, 20:14

jesus said " whatever you do to others, you do to me " so indirectly Jesus whom the christians believe is God (which is an offense in itself to some) has been slandered here in nigeria. did jesus ever cry out "murder"!! or "death" or "revenge" ?? NOOOOOO. Jesus stood for love and forgiveness especially to his enemies. and His followers therefore do likewise. but not so with other religions. if some are interested in the honor of men of god ( as they demonstrated last week) , then they should cry out in disgust in this devilish act in nigeria. where is the rage? where is hassan nasrallah now? where is the lebanese foreign minister calling for arab ministers to meet together to condemn this? where are the demonstrations now? is it ok to burn churches and kill followers of Jesus? as always.... they will be quiet. why?

Default-user-icon freedom from all religions (Guest) 24 September 2012, 04:28

there should be a new movie of Mo and more cartoon to protest the killing by muslems

Thumb kanaandian 25 September 2012, 07:42

religion of peace -:)