BAGHDAD–Iraqi authorities are holding a police commander for questioning in connection with this week's deadly attack on a Catholic church in Baghdad.
The police commander was detained on Tuesday under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's orders.
Baghdad military operations spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi refused to identify the commander by name but says he was in charge of the Karradah neighborhood in central Baghdad where the Our Lady of Salvation church is located.
Fifty-eight people died and nearly 80 were wounded when militants linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq stormed the church during Sunday Mass.
Al-Moussawi described what was the worst attack on Iraq's Christians in years as "a painful incident."
