Two Separate Blasts Hit  Churches in Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq - 01Aug. 2004 ~ Two car bombs exploded just minutes apart outside two nearby churches in central Baghdad during Sunday evening services, injuring at least 20 people, witnesses said.

The attacks appeared to be the first targeting churches during the 15-month violent insurgency of terror.

U.S. military officials said at least one and possible both of the blasts appeared to have been booby-trapped cars in the city's Karada neighborhood.

U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police patrolled the area as emergency workers raced to evacuate the wounded.

The first blast hit outside an Armenian church just 15 minutes into the evening service, witnesses said. The second blast hit a Catholic church about 200 yards away.

"I saw injured women and children and men, the church's glass shattered everywhere. There's glass all over the floor," said Juliette Agob, who was inside the Armenian church during the first explosion.

Massive plumes of black smoke poured into the evening sky over the city as firefighters struggled to put out the flames. U.S. helicopter gunships circled above the scene.

Firefighters and residents struggled with water hoses to put out the flames, which leapt from the front of a tan colored church and several blackened, destroyed cars.

It was a miracle that no one was killed.

CFPA: It was inevitable that churches would eventually be  targeted, frankly we're surprised it hasn't happened sooner. They've already attacked Mosques which should be sacrosanct  according to Islamic law but what does law mean to radical Moslems? Like honor, law means nothing to them.