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| Deadly Nigeria bomb attacks condemned by world leaders | Deadly Nigeria bomb attacks condemned by world leaders |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| There has been widespread condemnation in the international community of a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in Nigeria that killed almost 40 people. | There has been widespread condemnation in the international community of a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in Nigeria that killed almost 40 people. |
| The White House said the attacks were "senseless violence" and the UK foreign secretary called them "cowardly". | The White House said the attacks were "senseless violence" and the UK foreign secretary called them "cowardly". |
| Militant Islamist group Boko Haram said it carried out the attacks. | Militant Islamist group Boko Haram said it carried out the attacks. |
| A blast outside a church near the capital Abuja claimed 35 lives, while a policeman died in the city of Jos and four people were killed in Damaturu. | A blast outside a church near the capital Abuja claimed 35 lives, while a policeman died in the city of Jos and four people were killed in Damaturu. |
| Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said the attacks were "an unwarranted affront on our collective safety and freedom", adding: "Nigerians must stand as one to condemn them." | Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said the attacks were "an unwarranted affront on our collective safety and freedom", adding: "Nigerians must stand as one to condemn them." |
| 'Solidarity' | 'Solidarity' |
| The White House said initial investigation showed the attacks were "terrorist acts" and pledged to help Nigeria bring those responsible to justice. | The White House said initial investigation showed the attacks were "terrorist acts" and pledged to help Nigeria bring those responsible to justice. |
| Boko Haram - which has admitted carrying out these attacks - has been locked in an increasingly bloody struggle with the Nigerian authorities since it was founded in 2002. | Boko Haram - which has admitted carrying out these attacks - has been locked in an increasingly bloody struggle with the Nigerian authorities since it was founded in 2002. |
| There were indications these attacks were being planned. In the past week, bombs that were being prepared exploded prematurely in Yobe and Kaduna states. | There were indications these attacks were being planned. In the past week, bombs that were being prepared exploded prematurely in Yobe and Kaduna states. |
| Then the police raided a suspected Boko Haram hideout in Yobe. Some 60 people were killed in the ensuing gun battle. | Then the police raided a suspected Boko Haram hideout in Yobe. Some 60 people were killed in the ensuing gun battle. |
| Sunday's bomb attacks appear part of a planned offensive by the militants, who are calling for a strict Islamic state. | Sunday's bomb attacks appear part of a planned offensive by the militants, who are calling for a strict Islamic state. |
| Spokesman Jay Carney said: "We condemn this senseless violence and tragic loss of life on Christmas Day. We offer our sincere condolences to the Nigerian people and especially those who lost family and loved ones." | Spokesman Jay Carney said: "We condemn this senseless violence and tragic loss of life on Christmas Day. We offer our sincere condolences to the Nigerian people and especially those who lost family and loved ones." |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed "solidarity in [Nigeria's] fight against terrorism", while German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said: "Even on Christmas Day, the world is not spared from cowardice and the fear of terrorism." | French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed "solidarity in [Nigeria's] fight against terrorism", while German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said: "Even on Christmas Day, the world is not spared from cowardice and the fear of terrorism." |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague 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." | UK Foreign Secretary William Hague 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." |
| Israel said it would send medical aid to Nigeria and that it "condemned in the strongest terms these attacks carried out on Christmas Day". | Israel said it would send medical aid to Nigeria and that it "condemned in the strongest terms these attacks carried out on Christmas Day". |
| The Vatican said attacking a church was "blind hatred" seeking to "arouse and feed even more hatred and confusion". | The Vatican said attacking a church was "blind hatred" seeking to "arouse and feed even more hatred and confusion". |
| President Jonathan, who is a Christian, said: "I want to reassure all Nigerians that the government will not relent in its determination to bring to justice all the perpetrators." | President Jonathan, who is a Christian, said: "I want to reassure all Nigerians that the government will not relent in its determination to bring to justice all the perpetrators." |
| Angry crowds | Angry crowds |
| The first attack, outside St Theresa's Church in Madalla, near Abuja, killed 35 and wounded more than 50. | The first attack, outside St Theresa's Church in Madalla, near Abuja, killed 35 and wounded more than 50. |
| The church and surrounding homes were badly damaged. | The church and surrounding homes were badly damaged. |
| Father Christopher Barde told AFP news agency the blast occurred as the Christmas morning service was ending. | Father Christopher Barde told AFP news agency the blast occurred as the Christmas morning service was ending. |
| "It was really terrible," he said. "Some [wounded] people ran towards me [saying] 'Father anoint me'." | "It was really terrible," he said. "Some [wounded] people ran towards me [saying] 'Father anoint me'." |
| Crowds grew angry over the attack and the slow response of the emergency services. | Crowds grew angry over the attack and the slow response of the emergency services. |
| Reuters reports that thousands of youths have erected roadblocks on the road from the capital to the largely Muslim north, and are being tackled by security forces firing tear gas. | Reuters reports that thousands of youths have erected roadblocks on the road from the capital to the largely Muslim north, and are being tackled by security forces firing tear gas. |
| In Jos, a blast close to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church was followed by gunfire that left one officer dead, government spokesman Pam Ayuba told the Associated Press news agency. | In Jos, a blast close to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church was followed by gunfire that left one officer dead, government spokesman Pam Ayuba told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Two explosive devices found in a nearby building were disarmed as military were deployed to the site. | Two explosive devices found in a nearby building were disarmed as military were deployed to the site. |
| In Damaturu, in the north-east, there were two explosions. | In Damaturu, in the north-east, there were two explosions. |
| One was a suicide car bomb attack on a convoy of the State Security Service. | One was a suicide car bomb attack on a convoy of the State Security Service. |
| BBC correspondents say four people were killed there, including the suicide bomber. | BBC correspondents say four people were killed there, including the suicide bomber. |
| There was also an explosion in the nearby town of Gadaka. | There was also an explosion in the nearby town of Gadaka. |
| Damaturu and Gadaka are both in Yobe state, which has been the epicentre of violence between security forces and Boko Haram militants. | Damaturu and Gadaka are both in Yobe state, which has been the epicentre of violence between security forces and Boko Haram militants. |
| More than 60 people have died in fighting there this week. | More than 60 people have died in fighting there this week. |
| A spokesman for Boko Haram, Abul-Qaqa, told local media it carried out the bomb attacks. | A spokesman for Boko Haram, Abul-Qaqa, told local media it carried out the bomb attacks. |
| Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden", wants the imposition of Sharia law. | Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden", wants the imposition of Sharia law. |
| The group carried out an August 2011 suicide attack on the UN headquarters in Abuja, in which more than 20 people were killed. | The group carried out an August 2011 suicide attack on the UN headquarters in Abuja, in which more than 20 people were killed. |
| It was also responsible for a string of bomb blasts in Jos on Christmas Eve 2010. | It was also responsible for a string of bomb blasts in Jos on Christmas Eve 2010. |
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