Bartilla, North Iraq (AINA) -- A car bombed exploded today in Bartilla, near St. George Church. A dozen people were injured, five have been hospitalized. Dozens of homes and shops were damaged by the blast. Witnesses report a Mazda exploded at approximately 12 PM.

On Christmas day, 2009 Bartilla was attacked by a group of Shabak Shiites, who attempted to enter the Church of St. Mary, demanding to perform the Shiite rituals of self-flagellation inside the church (AINA 12-25-2009).