15 Dead After Twin Bombing in Pakistan Church
A twin bombing killed 15 people as suicide bombers attacked two Pakistani churches in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
The attackers struck the churches as worshippers prayed inside, marking the latest assault against religious minorities in Pakistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the recent attacks.
"There will be more of such attacks," said Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban.
Christian protesters blocked a major highway following the attacks. A Christian mob burned two people alive who they believed to be involved in the explosions.
"My son had gone to the church to pray for a good result in his examinations," said Sha-heen Bibi, whose 10-year-old son was killed in the attacks. "He wanted me to sew him some new clothes if he passed his examinations."
The explosions took place in the Christian neighborhood of Youhanabad Sunday morning. The two churches were just about 650 yards apart from each other.
Zahid Pervez, the provincial director general of health, gave the death toll of 15 adding that at least 70 people were wounded.
Militants have targeted religious minorities a lot more lately. Twin bombs at a church in Peshawar back in 2013 left 85 people dead. Recent attacks also targeted Shiite Muslim mosques.
A large crowd gathered at the scene of Sunday morning's attacks protested about the lack of security at St. John's Catholic Church and Christ Church, BBC News reports.
An eye witness, Amir Masih, said he heard the explosion near one of the churches. "I rushed towards the spot and saw the security guard scuffle with a man who was trying to enter the church," he said.
Masih said the man blew himself up after he was not able to enter the church.
Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, the chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance rights group, said the Lahore attacks prove that the government has failed to protect minorities.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain have condemned the recent attacks.
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