Bombs target buses of Christian students in Iraq

(May 3, 2010) Two bombs exploded minutes apart on Sunday near buses carrying Christian students in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing at least one bystander and injuring around 100 others, a security official said. Sunni Muslim insurgents have frequently targeted members of Iraq's Christian minority, especially in Mosul, which is home to a large Christian community. Some extremist Sunnis consider Christians to be non-believers and supporters of the Shiite-led government they oppose. A shop owner in the area was killed in Sunday's attack, said Abdul-Rahim al-Shammari, head of the provincial council's security committee. The injured included students and other civilians, he said. The attack began with a roadside bomb that exploded in the morning and appeared to target buses carrying students to Mosul University. Moments later, a car bomb exploded nearby. At least 17 critically injured patients were taken to a hospital in Irbil, in the Kurdish autonomous region.