On Sunday, January 20, again two people were injured as the car detonated, but the bomber failed in his attempt to attack a police checkpoint, officials said.
Security forces have been on extra alert in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, where a booby-trapped car was discovered parked outside the Al-Tahira Chaldean church in the Al-Shiffa district of the city Thursday, January 17, BosNewsLife established.
No worshippers were in the church at the time of the explosion, although church windows, the front door and a wall around the church grounds were damaged, witnesses said.
MANY KILLED
Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad Shlemon Warduni said in published remarks that the attack has added to anxiety among Christians. "Many people have been killed and many have been kidnapped this year, so our people are very sad and afraid," said Bishop Warduni. The attack was reportedly the second on Al-Tahira. It has been closed since the first attack some two years ago.
Several Christian buildings were targeted by bombers earlier this month with blasts in Mosul, Kirkuk and Baghdad. No one was killed but there was much damage to
the buildings and several people were injured.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has vowed that his government is committed to ensuring the safety of Christians in Iraq. In addition, Pope Benedict XVI voiced his concern for Christians in the war-torn nation in his annual speech to Vatican diplomats.
When the US-led invasion of Iraq began in 2003, there were at least 750,000 Christians in the country. Since then most have fled the violence, according to church leaders and human rights groups.
