LAHORE: Bombs outside two churches killed 15 people and wounded nearly 80 during Sunday services, and witnesses said quick action by a security guard prevented many more deaths.
A Pakistani Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility. Sunday’s blasts occurred minutes apart in a majority Christian suburb of the city. Police said it seemed they targeted two churches, one Catholic and one Protestant, that are very close to each other. After the explosions, enraged residents protested and lynched two suspects, police said. “I was sitting at a shop near the church when a blast jolted the area. I rushed toward the spot and saw the security guard scuffle with a man who was trying to enter the church. After failing, he blew himself up,” said witness Amir Masih.
“I saw his body parts flying through the air.” The guard died as well, he said. It was not clear if the first blast was also triggered by a suicide bomber, Masih said. Fourteen people were killed and 78 wounded, said Zahid Pervaiz, provincial director of general health. “The rescue operation is still underway and the death toll may increase,” rescue services spokesman Sajjad Hussain said. The Taliban faction Jamaatul Ahrar claimed responsibility. Pope Francis told crowds at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican he felt “great pain” over the bomb attacks, departing from scripted remarks in his customary address on Sunday.
“These are Christian churches. Christians are persecuted, our brothers spill their blood simply because they are Christians,” the pontiff said. Following the blast, enraged residents lynched two men they suspected of involvement, a police official said. Journalist Riaz Ahmed said he had seen the two burnt bodies at an intersection. Protesters also smashed shops and attacked vehicles. Police and several politicians were chased from the scene, residents said.
At least 15 people, including a pregnant staff nurse of Lahore General Hospital, a child and a police head constable, were killed and more than 70 others injured outside the main gates of Christ Church and Roman Catholic Church during Sunday prayers in Youhanabad. An angry mob caught two unidentified suspects on the spot after the incident and tortured them before setting them on fire in front of a number of protesters, policemen, newsmen. Several critical patients, including women and children, are still under treatment at the LGH and the death toll could rise.
Police caught two suspects from the spot and recovered a weapon from them and shifted them to an undisclosed place for interrogation. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan-affiliated Jamaatul Ahrar has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Lahore CCPO Capt (r) Muhammad Amin Wains has suspended Nishter Colony SHO, Inspector Rana Akmal over the attack. Four of the deceased persons were Muslims, including Head Constable Rashid Minhas. The majority of the victims were shopkeepers of the area, security personnel of the two churches, police officials and a passerby. The churches are around 300 to 400 yards from each other.
According to the eyewitnesses, the first suicide bomber blew himself when the security persons tried to check him outside the main gate at Christ Church at around 10:40am. After two to three minutes second blast occurred outside the main gate of Roman Catholic Church. They said that a number of Christian community were busy at the time in prayers inside the two churches. The Central Police Office spokesperson told the media that according to preliminary reports both the blasts were of suicide nature. Policemen were on their duty at the churches to guard the Christians performing their religious service, and they had retaliated.
She said that the death of two policemen in the attacks was ample proof of their presence at the churches. She said an angry mob nabbed two unidentified suspected terrorists from the scene, subjected them to severe torture, and later burnt them to death. The mob also halted the Metro Bus Service passing through Youhanabad to lodge their protest.
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