38 Dead in Christmas Attacks

Attacks in the Philippines and Nigeria have killed at least 38 people as anti-Christian violence came in the form of a series of bomb attacks against churches during Christmas festivities. —JCL

Al-Jazeera English:

Fresh attacks against Christians in the Philippines and Nigeria have marred Christmas festivities as church leaders condemned religious persecution and called for global peace and reconciliation.

As Christian leaders highlighted the plight of believers facing the threat of attacks around the world, a bomb in a church during Christmas mass in the southern Philippines on Saturday wounded 11 people, including a priest.

Military officials would not immediately name any suspects in the blast on Jolo island, but the island is a known bastion of the Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaeda-linked group, blamed for deadly attacks in the Philippines and for kidnapping priests and nuns.

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AP / Nickee Butlangan

Philippine National Police investigators inspect the damage to the Sacred Heart Catholic chapel after an explosion during a Christmas Day Mass on Saturday.