Religious tensions rise in Nigeria

Assailants threw a crude homemade bomb into an Arabic school in southern Nigeria's Delta state overnight, police said, wounding…

Assailants threw a crude homemade bomb into an Arabic school in southern Nigeria's Delta state overnight, police said, wounding seven people and escalating tensions between Muslims and Christians after a spate of church bombings across the nation.

Six of the wounded were children younger than nine.

The attack occurred at around 10pm and came two days after a series of Christmas Day bombings on churches and other targets by Islamist militant group Boko Haram claimed around 32 lives.

"Some men driving in a Camri car threw a low capacity explosive into a building where an Arabic class was taking place," police spokesman for the state Charles Muka said by telephone.

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"Children aged between four and nine were taking a lesson. Six children were injured and one adult (was)," he added.

Northern Nigerian Christians said yesterday they feared that the Christmas Day bombings could lead to a religious war in the country.

The warning was made in a statement by the northern branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria, an umbrella organisation comprising various denominations including Catholics, Protestants and Pentecostalists.

Reuters