Archive for March 20th, 2008
Bomb Threat In Dubai
19 Mar – Wanted to check out the St Mary’s Catholic church in Dubai but found the street leading to the church totally cordoned off by the police. My friend, Benedict advised that we can drive by but we should not stop, if not I would be questioned by the police. I was extremely puzzled.
Benedict then showed me another church across the road which was the St Thomas Orthodox Church. The road was totally deserted with police barriers lining the road and a police patrol car parked at the entrance of the church.
What’s going on? I have not read anything at all in the local media and would not have noticed anything amiss in Dubai if I have not decided to take a detour to check out the local church.
According to Benedict, the authorities had advised the churches in Dubai that they received some bomb threats which were scheduled to mar the Easter celebrations. As a precautionary measure, the police had decided to increase security at all churches and banned vehicles from parking near the churches since Palm Sunday.
Having lost in the incredible sights of modern Dubai and its cosmopolitan dwellers, I was suddenly reminded that under all the glitter lies the existence of sick individuals who would go at all lengths to wreak havoc and suffering to those who do not subscribe to their twisted beliefs. For that moment, I shivered at the thought of how vulnerable we all are. With all the progress we made, yet people are not allowed to worship in peace.
I am truly praying that nothing untold will happen this Easter, not in Dubai, not anywhere in the world.
