Churches attacked following Pope comments

Palestinians wielding guns, firebombs and lighter fluid attacked four churches in the West Bank town of Nablus on today, while gunmen opened fire at a fifth in Gaza, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI that many Muslims view as disparaging.

No injuries were reported in any of the attacks, which left church doors charred and outer walls pocked by bullet holes and scorched by firebombs. Churches of various denominations were targeted.

Relations between Palestinian Muslims and the small Palestinian Christian minority are generally peaceful, so the attacks on four of Nablus’ 10 churches, and on the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City sparked concern that tensions would widen.

“The atmosphere is charged already, and the wise should not accept such acts,” Father Yousef Saada, a Greek Catholic priest in Nablus, said.

Ayman Daraghmeh, a legislator from the ruling Islamic militant Hamas group, denounced the attacks. Said Siyam, the Palestinian interior minister, ordered extra protection for churches in the West Bank and Gaza.

Firebombings left black scorch marks on the walls and windows of Nablus’ Anglican and Greek Orthodox churches. At least five firebombs hit the Anglican church, whose door was later set ablaze in a separate attack. Smoke billowed from the church as firefighters put out the flames.

In a phone call to The Associated Press, a group calling itself the “Lions of Monotheism” claimed responsibility. The caller said the attacks were carried out to protest the pope’s remarks about Islam.

Later, four masked gunmen doused the main doors of Nablus’ Roman and Greek Catholic churches with lighter fluid, then set them on fire. They also opened fire on the buildings, striking both.

In Gaza City, militants opened fire from a car at a Greek Orthodox church, hitting the façade. A policeman at the scene said he saw a car escape with armed men inside. Explosive devices were set off at the same Gaza church on Friday, causing minor damage.

There were no claims of responsibility for the last three attacks.

“The people who did this are uneducated and ignorant,” said the Gaza church’s prelate, The Rev. Artinious Alexious.

In a speech earlier this week, Benedict cited an obscure Medieval text that characterises some of the teachings of Islam’s founder as “evil and inhuman.” The pope, spiritual leader of more than 1 billion Roman Catholics, did not explicitly agree with or repudiate the text.

The Vatican later said the pope did not mean the comments to be offensive. However, they have sparked worldwide protests by Muslims, and Muslim leaders have demanded an apology.