Bishop Warduni Asks Prayers for Hostages, Hostage Takers as Police Regain Control of Situation in Baghdad Church

Iraqi police stormed a Catholic church in downtown Baghdad on Sunday evening in pursuit of gunmen who were holding as many as 10 people hostage inside.

Two policemen were killed and eight people wounded in the violence that began at dusk with an attack on the Iraqi stock exchange.

After battling security forces at the stock exchange, the militants fled to the nearby church, where they held the building's construction and cleaning crews hostage inside.

Baghdad military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said Iraqi security forces overwhelmed the handful of insurgents in the church and «the operation is under
Control,» though it was not immediately clear how many people were killed or wounded, or whether the gunmen had been captured, killed or escaped.

Auxiliary bishop of Baghdad of the Chaldeans, Shlemon Warduni, spoke with Vatican Radio, reporting that at least one child was killed in the incident, and asking people to pray that God give the hostage-takers grace to take into consideration the women, children, and all the innocent who were threatened by their actions.

Hear Bishop Warduni’s statement, given to Massimiliano Menichetti on VR’s Italian news desk...