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| Blast hits Nigeria church during Christmas service | Blast hits Nigeria church during Christmas service |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A bomb blast has ripped through a Catholic church near the Nigerian capital, Abuja, causing deaths and injuries, officials say. | A bomb blast has ripped through a Catholic church near the Nigerian capital, Abuja, causing deaths and injuries, officials say. |
| The blast tore through St Theresa's Church in Madalla as worshippers gathered for Christmas services. | |
| An emergency official told reporters the authorities did not have enough ambulances to cope. | An emergency official told reporters the authorities did not have enough ambulances to cope. |
| Security has been high after violence between Islamist gunmen and soldiers in northern Nigeria. | Security has been high after violence between Islamist gunmen and soldiers in northern Nigeria. |
| But the BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Lagos says no trouble had been expected in the capital. | But the BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Lagos says no trouble had been expected in the capital. |
| National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) spokesman Yushau Shuaibu told Reuters news agency the authorities were struggling to deal with the incident. | National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) spokesman Yushau Shuaibu told Reuters news agency the authorities were struggling to deal with the incident. |
| "We are presently evacuating the dead and the injured, but unfortunately we don't have enough ambulances. Most of our ambulances have gone to operate on the major highways of the country," he said. | "We are presently evacuating the dead and the injured, but unfortunately we don't have enough ambulances. Most of our ambulances have gone to operate on the major highways of the country," he said. |
| Witnesses said windows of nearby houses had been shattered by the explosion. | Witnesses said windows of nearby houses had been shattered by the explosion. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? You can contact the BBC using the form below: | Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? You can contact the BBC using the form below: |