Three Nigerian churches bombed; 15 killed

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KADUNA, Nigeria, June 17 (UPI) -- Another wave of bombings targeting churches left 15 people dead and 32 injured in Nigeria Sunday, emergency officials said.

Three bombs detonated during worship services in northern Nigeria, and although there were no immediate claims of responsibility, the militant Muslim group Boko Haram was suspected of being behind the attacks.

Boko Haram has been implicated in an ongoing series of church bombings as part of its campaign to establish a strict Islamic state in the oil-rich African nation. CNN said Boko Haram has called itself the "Nigerian Taliban."

Mohammed Sani Sidi, head of the National Emergency Management Agency, said all three bombings occurred in Kaduna state. The first two blasts were just minutes apart in the city of Zaria. A third bomb exploded about 90 minutes later in the city of Kaduna.

A witness said the first bombing was carried out by a motorist who crashed his car through a barricade.

CNN said a 24-hour curfew was imposed in Kaduna after angry Christian youths took to the streets and blocked major roads with burning tires.