Baghdad, Oct 31 (DPA) Members of the Al Qaeda affiliated Islamic State of Iraq were holding hostages inside a church in central Baghdad Sunday and had threatened to kill them if security forces, who have surrounded the building, tried to enter.
‘An armed attack targeted the Sayedat al-Najah Church in al-Karrada, central Baghdad,’ Qassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad Operations Command, told state-run Iraqiya TV. ‘Security forces are cordoning off the church and dealing with the situation,’ he added.
The militants were demanding the release of Al Qaeda members in Iraq and Egypt, Al-Baghdadiya TV reported.
Witnesses told DPA that the church was targeted during the Sunday service, adding that the sound of gunfire could be heard across al-Karrada.
‘Churches used to be attacked in this neighbourhood, but not recently,’ said one of the residents of the area. ‘We are not used to this anymore.’
It was not clear how many people were being held inside the church, but women and children were reportedly among the hostages.
Sources at the Interior Ministry only said that four people were injured earlier when two bombs went off consecutively outside the church. No further details were available.
