Hostage taking at Baghdad Catholic church leaves 52 dead

The Iraqi defence minister calls the deadly rescue operation a success.

Six militants stormed the Our Lady of Salvation church during evening mass yesterday after attacking the Iraqi stock exchange across the street. Eyewitnesses say they immediately killed the priest presiding over the ceremony and took the roughly 100 worshippers hostage, demanding the release of al Qaeda prisoners. A terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq, to which al Qaeda in Iraq belongs, claimed responsibility for the attack. Police surrounded the church and an hours-long stand-off ensued before grenades were heard detonating inside and the militants began shooting hostages. Police stormed the church using helicopters and officers on the ground and killed all six militants, but not before at least 52 hostages had died. Around 60 more were injured.