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Version 1 |
| Christian sites targeted in Mosul |
Christian sites targeted in Mosul |
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(1 day later)
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| Iraq's minority Christian population has been targeted in a series of apparently coordinated attacks in Mosul. | Iraq's minority Christian population has been targeted in a series of apparently coordinated attacks in Mosul. |
| Bombs exploded outside three churches and a monastery in the northern Iraqi city on Sunday, wounding four people. | Bombs exploded outside three churches and a monastery in the northern Iraqi city on Sunday, wounding four people. |
| The explosions struck on Epiphany Sunday - an important date in the Eastern Christian calendar. | The explosions struck on Epiphany Sunday - an important date in the Eastern Christian calendar. |
| Christians form around 3% of the Iraqi population although many have left, fleeing religious persecution. | Christians form around 3% of the Iraqi population although many have left, fleeing religious persecution. |
| The first explosion happened in the early afternoon - after the Sunday service was over - outside the Chaldean Church of St Paul. | The first explosion happened in the early afternoon - after the Sunday service was over - outside the Chaldean Church of St Paul. |
| The blast broke windows in the building and damaged its surrounding fence. | The blast broke windows in the building and damaged its surrounding fence. |
| A few minutes later, four people were wounded in a bomb attack outside Mosul's Assyrian church of the Virgin Mary. | A few minutes later, four people were wounded in a bomb attack outside Mosul's Assyrian church of the Virgin Mary. |
| The third explosion was outside a monastery in the centre of Mosul. | The third explosion was outside a monastery in the centre of Mosul. |
| Two hours later, two bombs exploded outside the Chaldean church of Maskanta. | Two hours later, two bombs exploded outside the Chaldean church of Maskanta. |
| Anger | Anger |
| Mosul is traditionally a religiously mixed city. | Mosul is traditionally a religiously mixed city. |
| Iraqi translator Omer, who lives in Mosul, told the BBC news website that people were upset at the attack on the city's tolerant traditions. | Iraqi translator Omer, who lives in Mosul, told the BBC news website that people were upset at the attack on the city's tolerant traditions. |
| "People are really angry and sad about what happened, but no one dares show that in public because they are afraid of the armed groups." | "People are really angry and sad about what happened, but no one dares show that in public because they are afraid of the armed groups." |
| Iraq has one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. | Iraq has one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. |
| However, according to official figures, numbers have slumped from around 800,000 in the 1990s to between 400,000 and 600,000 now. | However, according to official figures, numbers have slumped from around 800,000 in the 1990s to between 400,000 and 600,000 now. |
Are you in Mosul? Are you a member of Iraq's Christian community? Send us your views below. | |
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