Bomb Blast hits Abuja church during Christmas service

(BBC, 09:09 AM) - A bomb blast has just ripped through a Catholic church near the Nigerian capital, Abuja, causing deaths and injuries, officials say.

The blast tore through St Theresa's Church in Madalla as worshippers gathered for Christmas services.

An emergency official told reporters the authorities did not have enough ambulances to cope.

Security has been high after violence between Islamist gunmen and soldiers in northern Nigeria.

But the BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Lagos says no trouble had been expected in the capital.

National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) spokesman Yushau Shuaibu told Reuters news agency the authorities were struggling to deal with the incident.

"We are presently evacuating the dead and the injured, but unfortunately we don't have enough ambulances. Most of our ambulances have gone to operate on the major highways of the country," he said.

Witnesses said windows of nearby houses had been shattered by the explosion.

LATEST UPDATE (11:05 AM)

Victim of bomb blast in Suleja today

©Photos by Saharareporters, New York

Two bombs are now confirmed to have exploded during the christmas church service at the Catholic church in Madalla (Suleja, Niger state) as earlier reported above. Several church goers have died and many are severely injured.

Christmas day worshippers at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla near Abuja in Niger State were caught up in the blast that has killed several people.

Saharareporters report that eyewitnesses have counted 20 bodies so far and 10 vehicles destroyed entirely in the attacks, one of the vehicles was carrying a family leaving the church after church service, the entire family died in the car.

Eyewitnesses also said a massive bomb was driven by a suicide bomber in a BMW car, a second car rigged with a bomb was parked at the premises of the church. The first explosion happened around 8: 30 AM as church members left the church premises after the christmas day mass.

Soldiers, police and road safety officials have taken over the premises of the church but angry youths in the area have prevented them from taking away dead bodies.

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