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Pakistan church attack: Suicide bombers storm church and detonate explosives as congregation worships | Pakistan church attack: Suicide bombers storm church and detonate explosives as congregation worships |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two suicide bombers stormed a Christian church in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least five people and wounding up to 18 before being stopped by police guards. | |
The gunmen, who were wearing vests filled with explosives, attacked the church in Quetta city when Sunday services had just opened. | The gunmen, who were wearing vests filled with explosives, attacked the church in Quetta city when Sunday services had just opened. |
Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for Baluchistan province, said hundreds of worshippers were attending the church ahead of Christmas. | Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for Baluchistan province, said hundreds of worshippers were attending the church ahead of Christmas. |
He said one attacker was killed at the entrance to the church, while the other set off his payload inside. | He said one attacker was killed at the entrance to the church, while the other set off his payload inside. |
Police guards at the church exchanged fire with the attackers before they could enter the main sanctuary, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah. | Police guards at the church exchanged fire with the attackers before they could enter the main sanctuary, said provincial police chief Moazzam Jah. |
"There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldn't get inside the services," Mr Jah said. | "There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldn't get inside the services," Mr Jah said. |
"We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him." | "We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him." |
Baluchistan police chief Moazzam Ansari confirmed the death toll. | |
Mr Ansari praised the response of security forces guarding the church, saying the attacker who made it inside was wounded and unable to reach the main building. | |
"Otherwise the loss of lives could have been much higher," he told reporters. | |
Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said a search is underway for two suspected accomplices who escaped. | |
Mr Jah said the church had guards because Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremist groups | Mr Jah said the church had guards because Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremist groups |
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Muslim extremists have targeted Pakistan's Christian minority in the past. | |
Local television showed ambulances and security patrols racing to the scene, while women and children were being led out of the church's main gate. | Local television showed ambulances and security patrols racing to the scene, while women and children were being led out of the church's main gate. |
Hospitals officials said two women were among the dead while another five women and two children were among the wounded. | |
A young girl in a white dress sobbed as she recounted the attack to Geo television, saying many people around her were wounded. | |
Aqil Anjum, who was shot in his right arm, told the Associated Press he heard a blast in the middle of the service, followed by heavy gunfire. | |
"It was chaos. Bullets were hitting people inside the closed hall." | |
Dozens of Christians gathered outside a nearby hospital to protest the lack of security. | |
Pakistan's president and other senior officials condemned the attack. | |
"Attack of terrorists on Zarghoon road church in Quetta is condemned. Pakistan’s resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts," Mohammad Faisal, a spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on Twitter. | |
Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |