10 killed in church bomb blast
A bomb exploded inside a Catholic church during Mass yesterday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 25 others in southwestern Bangladesh, police said.
Nine worshippers died instantly in the blast at the Christian Mission Church in Baniarchar village in Gopalganj district, 104 miles southwest of Dhaka. Another died on the way to hospital.
The wounded were taken to the state-run Gopalganj Sadar Hospital and three other health centres in the area. At least two of the wounded were in a critical condition, hospital doctors said.
‘‘I was deep into prayer when I heard a big bang. The hall was engulfed in smoke. Everyone was screaming,’’ survivor Hubert Bairagi said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the bombing in her home district and ordered an immediate investigation.
‘‘The culprits must be found and punished,’’ the Prime Minister said.
Dozens of church members had gathered for morning prayers when the bomb went off behind a wooden shelf of bibles and religious books in one corner of the tin-roofed church, head priest Father Mimmo said.
Police investigators suspect that the explosion was caused by a timing device.
No one has claimed responsibility.
Religious attacks against minority Christians are not common in Bangladesh, where Christians account for a little more than 1% of Bangladesh’s 130 million people. Muslims make up 88% of the population and Hindus 10%.
