Nigerian Islamist Group Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Deadly Suicide Bombing in Central Nigerian City of Jos

While our media and, unfortunately, our commander in chief were wringing their hands over some incinerated korans in Afghanistan, a Nigerian islamist group launched a suicide attack targetting another Christian house of worship.

Nigeria's Islamist sect Boko Haram said it was behind a suicide bomb attack Sunday that killed at least three outside a church in the central city of Jos, and warned of more such assaults.

Witnesses said a car packed with explosives rammed the gate of a perimeter fence and exploded a few metres (yards) from the wall of an 800-seat church hall in the volatile city.

The bombing is the latest of a series of almost daily attacks, most of them blamed on the Islamist sect, that have heightened tensions in central Nigeria.

"The bomber drove at top speed, and there was a loud explosion and everything was black," said churchgoer Ezekiel Gomos, who saw a black car driving fast towards the church hall around 30 minutes into the service.

The church was about 80 percent full at the time.

"If he had driven into the middle of the church it could have been worse, but God was in control," said Gomos.

Various Nigerian media outlets report that the death toll has risen to anywhere from 8 to 14 killed since Sunday's attack. There were also reports that a Christian mob burned Muslim-owned stores and attacked and killed 3 muslim men in the city in reprisal attacks.

Jos is the capital city of Nigeria's Plateau state and governor David Jonah Jang is a parishoner of the church Boko Haram targetted.