Militants Claim Christmas Day Church Bombings

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6:32pm UK, Sunday December 25, 2011

The first explosion ripped through St Theresa Catholic Church in Madala on the outskirts of the capital Abuja.

These are cowardly attacks on families gathered in peace and prayer to celebrate a day which symbolises harmony and goodwill towards others.

Foreign Secretary William Hague

Rescue workers recovered at least 25 bodies from the church, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema).

The bombings were apparently the work of the sect known as Boko Haram, which is believed to be responsible for at least 491 killings this year alone.

Nema spokesman Yushau Shuaib said: "The evacuation exercise is still going on as military personnel provide security cover to rescue officers providing humanitarian services due to the tension in the area from an angry crowd.

"We are presently there, evacuating the dead and the injured but unfortunately we don't have enough ambulances.

A damaged crucifix and structure at the scene of a car bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja

Damage after the explosion at St Theresa Catholic church at Madala

"Most of our ambulances have gone to operate on the major highways of the country."

It was followed by another blast near the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, 150 miles away in the city of Jos. There were also explosions in the nation's north east.

A police officer was killed when gunmen opened fire on officers guarding the area around the Jos bombing, a government spokesman said.

Two other locally made explosives were found in a nearby building and disarmed, he added.

A damaged car after the bomb attack in explosion at St Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja

A car peppered with shrapnel after the attack at Madala

There were two blasts in the north eastern city of Damaturu, one of them a suicide car bombing.

Local police commissioner Tanko Lawan said the headquarters of Nigeria's secret police in the area was the target of the car bomb. There is no immediate information on casualties.

Foreign Secretary William Hague voiced his concern about the "cowardly attacks on families gathered in peace and prayer".

"I condemn today?s bomb attacks in or near churches in Nigeria," he said. "These are cowardly attacks on families gathered in peace and prayer to celebrate a day which symbolises harmony and goodwill towards others.

"I offer my condolences to the bereaved and injured."

Map of Nigeria with areas affected by the bomb incidents

A series of incidents were reported across Nigeria

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the August suicide bombing of the UN HQ in Abuja that killed at least 24 people.

The sect wants to introduce strict Shariah law across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of more than 160 million people.

The north of the country is predominantly Muslim, while the south has a mainly Christian population. The Jos area, where north meets south, is mixed.

The Foreign Office has advised against travel to the northeastern region of Nigeria.

Boko Haram's name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language.

Last year, the militants claimed responsibility for a series of Christmas Eve bombings in Jos that left at least 32 dead and 74 wounded.

Aftermath of bomb attack at St Theresa Catholic Church in Abuja, Nigeria, on Christmas Day 2011

The aftermath of the bomb attack on St Theresa Church in Abuja

According to the Times of Nigeria, at least 61 people have been killed during the last few days as fighting escalated between security forces and Boko Haram members.

Regional analysts have become increasingly concerned about the group after it began robbing banks in northern Nigeria to fund itself.

The group has also splintered into three factions, one of which has sought terror tactics through links to groups in North Africa and Somalia.

The chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, was quoted by local media as saying soldiers killed dozens of sect members at Damaturu during shootouts on Thursday and Friday.

The Vatican has denounced the attacks as a sign of "cruelty and absurd, blind hatred" that shows no respect for human life.

Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Nigeria-Church-Bombs-Militants-Boko-Haram-Claim-Attacks-During-Christmas-Services/Article/201112416137155?f=rss

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