9 Christians wounded in attacks in Baghdad

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Nine Christian citizens were wounded in armed attacks that target their houses in Baghdad, a security source said on Thursday. “Four Christian citizens were wounded late Thursday (Dec. 30) when an explosive charge went off inside their house in al-Doura region in Mechanik neighborhood, southwest of Baghdad, while two more Christians were wounded by bomb explosion in al-Aameriya region in al-Khadraa neighborhood, west of Baghdad,” the source told IraqiNews.com news agency, noting that three Christians were injured in al-Sidiya region in al-Aalam neighborhood in southwest of Baghdad. A security source had said that six people were injured in an armed attack on two houses; one of them belongs to a Christian family. Christians across Iraq have been living in fear since the assault on Our Lady of Salvation Church as its Catholic congregation was celebrating Sunday Mass. Sixty-eight people was killed. Church officials in Baghdad, as well as in the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul and the southern city of Basra, said they will not put up Christmas decorations or celebrate midnight Mass. They urged worshippers not to decorate their homes. Even an appearance by Santa Claus was called off. SH (P) 5