LAHORE, Pakistan - Fourteen people were killed and more
than 70 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked churches in
Pakistan’s Lahore on Sunday, sparking mob violence in which two other
suspected militants died.
Up to 4,000 Christians later
took to the streets of the eastern city, many armed with clubs as they
smashed vehicles and attacked a city bus station in a rare show of anger
by the beleaguered minority.
The bombings occurred during
prayers at two churches located around half a kilometre apart in the
city’s Youhanabad neighbourhood that is home to more than 100,000
Christians, officials said.
Doctor Mohammad Saeed Sohbin,
medical superintendent of the nearby General Hospital, said: “We have
received 14 dead bodies and 70 injured,” adding that the figure did not
include the suspected militants who were lynched, or the bombers.
Zahid Pervez, the top health official in
Lahore, confirmed the death toll and told reporters that 78 people were
wounded in both attacks.
Broken window panes, blood and shoes were scattered across the blast sites.
Police
spokeswoman Nabila Ghazanfar said two policemen guarding the churches
were among those killed in the attacks, while two people were beaten to
death by protesters who took to the streets after the blasts.
No comments:
Post a Comment