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Nigeria unrest: Suicide bomb targets church in Jos | Nigeria unrest: Suicide bomb targets church in Jos |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A suicide car bomber has killed at least three people at a church in the troubled central Nigerian city of Jos, sparking reprisals by Christian youths. | A suicide car bomber has killed at least three people at a church in the troubled central Nigerian city of Jos, sparking reprisals by Christian youths. |
Witnesses said the suicide bomber drove his car into the prominent Church of Christ during morning prayers. | Witnesses said the suicide bomber drove his car into the prominent Church of Christ during morning prayers. |
The radical Islamist sect Boko Haram later said that it carried out the attack. | |
The bombing sparked a riot by Christian youths, with reports that at least two Muslims were killed in the violence. | |
The two men were dragged off their bikes after being stopped at a roadblock set up by the rioters, police said. | The two men were dragged off their bikes after being stopped at a roadblock set up by the rioters, police said. |
A row of Muslim-owned shops was also burned, an AFP reporter at the scene said. | A row of Muslim-owned shops was also burned, an AFP reporter at the scene said. |
President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the violence and appealed for calm. | |
"Those who seek to divide us by fear and terror will not succeed," he said in a statement. | |
"The indiscriminate bombing of Christians and Muslims is a threat to all peace-loving Nigerians." | |
'Very angry' | 'Very angry' |
Earlier, the suicide bomber smashed his car through unmanned gates towards the packed church, killing a woman in the process, witnesses said. | Earlier, the suicide bomber smashed his car through unmanned gates towards the packed church, killing a woman in the process, witnesses said. |
The explosives detonated close to where members of the congregation were attending a Sunday service, killing a father and his child. | The explosives detonated close to where members of the congregation were attending a Sunday service, killing a father and his child. |
"The bomber drove at top speed, and there was a loud explosion and everything was black," said churchgoer Ezekiel Gomos. | |
At least 38 people had to be taken to hospital for treatment, the National Emergency Management Agency said. | At least 38 people had to be taken to hospital for treatment, the National Emergency Management Agency said. |
The attack sparked immediate anger among Christian youths in the city. | The attack sparked immediate anger among Christian youths in the city. |
They "were very angry and mobilised... and I overheard them saying they were going to avenge the attack," one witness said. | |
Ethnic and religious tensions run high in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. Hundreds of people have died in bouts of sectarian clashes over the last few years. | Ethnic and religious tensions run high in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. Hundreds of people have died in bouts of sectarian clashes over the last few years. |
Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa later told reporters that the group had carried out the attack. | |
Its aim was "to avenge the killings and dehumanisation of Muslims in Jos in the past 10 years", AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | |
The group has carried out a number of bloody attacks across Nigeria in its quest to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. | The group has carried out a number of bloody attacks across Nigeria in its quest to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. |
Boko Haram attacked churches across the country on Christmas Day 2011, killing nearly 40 people at one church outside the capital, Abuja, alone. | |
It has also claimed responsibility for a string of bomb blasts around Jos on Christmas Eve 2010 that killed at least 80 people. | It has also claimed responsibility for a string of bomb blasts around Jos on Christmas Eve 2010 that killed at least 80 people. |