ISIS 'destroys historic church in Mosul'

ISIS has destroyed Mosul's famed Clock Church, one of the best-known churches that remained in the Iraqi city, according to Iraqi news reports.

No photos of the detonated church have been released to confirm the report, however the church has historically been a target, and was damaged in 2006. ISIS has not made a statement about its destruction.

The Clock Church, given its name because of the its dominating clock tower, was built in 1872 by the Dominican Order.

The clock tower was commissioned by Empress Eugenie of France, wife of the last Emperor Napoleon III, for the Dominican Fathers.

She gave the money as a reward for the friars' work in curing typhoid in the city.

According to a number of sources, ISIS jihadists planted explosives and detonated them on Monday morning.

Mosul was first captured by ISIS in June 2014, when they destroyed many Christian places of worship.

The city has historically been home to various religions and ethnicities, including Sunni Muslims, Christians, Shabaks, Arabs, Kurds Assyrians, Armenians and Turkmens.

ISIS is currently facing pressure in Mosul from surrounding Kurdish and Iraqi government forces. The US coalition has also strategically bombed key ISIS strongholds in the city.

related articles
'We were beaten and raped continuously for two weeks': 17-year-old Yazidi girl reveals life in ISIS captivity

'We were beaten and raped continuously for two weeks': 17-year-old Yazidi girl reveals life in ISIS captivity

\'We\'re holding on by our fingernails\': Syriac priest on the exodus of Christians in the Middle East
'We're holding on by our fingernails': Syriac priest on the exodus of Christians in the Middle East

'We're holding on by our fingernails': Syriac priest on the exodus of Christians in the Middle East

New York Archbishop tells Iraqi Christians: \'We love you, you are not forgotten.\'
New York Archbishop tells Iraqi Christians: 'We love you, you are not forgotten.'

New York Archbishop tells Iraqi Christians: 'We love you, you are not forgotten.'

ISIS destroy ancient Assyrian \'Gate of God\' near Mosul
ISIS destroy ancient Assyrian 'Gate of God' near Mosul

ISIS destroy ancient Assyrian 'Gate of God' near Mosul

Iraqi priest saves thousands of 'priceless' ancient manuscripts from ISIS

Iraqi priest saves thousands of 'priceless' ancient manuscripts from ISIS

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.