Baghdad bombs kill three minority Christians

The Sydney Morning Herald reports a spate of bomb attacks on Christian homes in Baghdad on Wednesday killed at least three people and wounded 26, further panicking Iraq's minority community days after an Al-Qaeda church massacre.

"Two mortar shells and 10 homemade bombs targeted the homes of Christians in different neighbourhoods of Baghdad between 6 am and 8 am (0300 and 0500 GMT)," an interior ministry official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The toll is three dead and 26 wounded."

A defence ministry official listed additional attacks and higher tolls.
"Since Tuesday evening, there have been 13 bombs and two mortar attacks on homes and shops of Christians in which a total of six people were killed and 33 injured," the official said. "A church was also damaged."

The attacks come less than two weeks after 44 Christian worshippers, two priests and seven security personnel died in the seizure of a Baghdad cathedral by Islamist gunmen and the ensuing shootout when it was stormed by troops.

On November 3, Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the cathedral bloodbath and warned it would step up attacks on Christians.

Monsignor Pius Kasha, whose Syriac Catholic cathedral was targeted in the October 31 hostage-taking, said three Christian homes in Baghdad's Mansur district were also hit by bombs late on Tuesday.

Three people were wounded, including a four-month-old baby, he said.
"We don't know what is the aim of these criminals but what is certain is that this will push even more Christians to emigrate," Kasha told AFP.
"Where is the security the government is supposed to provide to all citizens, Christians and Muslims?"

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