RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: And Kelly, how did this all unfold?</s>KELLY MCEVERS: At first they grabbed a construction crew as hostages, some people who were working on part of the church. But then it turns out there was an evening mass service going on, and they also seized some worshippers.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: So they're in this church, Our Lady of Salvation church, and the militants, you know, it's not clear why they went there in the first place. But did they begin making demands?</s>KELLY MCEVERS: What's still unclear is whether this statement appeared before or during the raid here in Iraq.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: So how did the seize end? Obviously, quite deadly.</s>KELLY MCEVERS: But, that said, American Special Forces, who number about 5,000 here in Iraq, have more flexible rules of engagement.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: Well, if this all started with gunman attacking the stock exchange and then retreating to this church, what does this say about al-Qaida in Iraq?</s>KELLY MCEVERS: So what you're seeing now is al-Qaida launching these sort of lower-cost, high- profile attacks. The idea is to make themselves look more dangerous than they actually are, you know, to keep the specter of fear alive.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: Kelly, thanks very much.</s>KELLY MCEVERS: Thank you.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: NPR's Kelly McEvers, speaking to us from Iraq.
Islamic militants stormed a church in central Baghdad and held about 120 Christians hostage Sunday before security forces stormed the building and freed them. At least 47 people were killed. The militants were demanding the release of female insurgents when security forces stormed the building.