{"id":50056,"date":"2024-12-18T05:27:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T05:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/pope-francis-assassination-plot-stopped-by-uk-intelligence\/"},"modified":"2024-12-18T05:27:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T05:27:00","slug":"pope-francis-assassination-plot-stopped-by-uk-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=50056","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis assassination plot stopped by UK intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

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The years before had seen increased sectarian violence in Iraq, with fighting between Shia and Sunni Muslims as well as the persecution of religious minorities. <\/p>\n

The country’s Christian community had shrunk dramatically, having been targeted in particular by the Islamic State group and other Sunni extremists.<\/p>\n

In excerpts of his autobiography, the Pope says “almost everyone advised me against” the visit but he felt he “had to do it”.<\/p>\n

He says the plot was uncovered by British intelligence, who warned Iraqi police, and they in turn told his security detail once he had touched down. <\/p>\n

“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” he says. <\/p>\n

“And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention.” <\/p>\n

The Pope adds that he asked a security official the following day what had happened to the would-be attackers. <\/p>\n

“The [official] replied laconically: ‘They are no more’. The Iraqi police had intercepted them and blown them up,” he wrote.<\/p>\n

The book, entitled Hope, is due to be published on 14 January. <\/p>\n

The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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