Lahore church blasts kill 15

At least 15 people were killed and over 80 wounded when twin blasts — targeting two churches — rocked a Christian neighbourhood in Lahore on Sunday, leading to violent protests by Christians in various cities. After the blasts, enraged residents burnt to death two suspects, a police official said.

Police officials said the blasts occurred during prayers near two churches in the Youhanabad area, home to more than 1,00,000 Christians, sparking angry protests and mourning. “The death toll is expected to rise as some of the wounded are in critical condition. Emergency has been declared in the hospitals,” said a government official.

“A policeman was among the dead. The churches (500 metres apart) were the target,” he said, adding that the blast occurred when the Christians were praying. Jamaatul Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack. Up to 4,000 Christians later took to the streets of Lahore, many armed with clubs, as they smashed vehicles and attacked a city bus station in a rare show of anger.

A preliminary investigation report said that 15 to 20 kg of explosive material was used in the explosion. The initial investigation report said if the police personnel had not stopped the suicide bombers at the gate, the attackers would have caused more destruction. It said 350 to 400 people, including women and children, were offering prayers in both the churches.

Sunday’s attacks were the worst on the community since a devastating double suicide-bombing in Peshawar in September 2013 killed 82 people. That came months after more than 3,000 Muslim protesters torched some 100 hous-es as they rampaged through Joseph Colony, another Christian neighbourhood of Lahore, following blasphemy allegations against a Christian man.

The thousands of Christian protesters who clashed with the police on Sunday attacked their cars with stones and sticks, as the women wept and beat their heads and chests.

The protesters later turned on the city’s bus rapid transit system, a signature project of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Zaeem Qadri, a spokesman for the Punjab provincial government, said efforts were being made to talk to the protesters to stop the rioting but “emotions are very high because their churches have been attacked”.

Christians also took to the streets in other cities, including Karachi, where around 200 protesters blocked a main road and burnt tyres. There were also demonstrations in Peshawar, Multan, Rawalpindi and Quetta.

An official statement said, “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the Lahore blasts and directed provincial governments to ensure the security of the public and their property.” Mr Sharif also sought reports on the incident and directed the authorities concerned for the provision of the best medical facilities to the injured. He asked all provincial governments to beef up security and take all possible measures to safeguard lives and property of the people.