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| Deadly blasts hit Pakistan churches in Lahore | Deadly blasts hit Pakistan churches in Lahore |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Two bomb blasts have killed at least 14 people near two churches in a Christian neighbourhood of the Pakistani city of Lahore, local officials say. | Two bomb blasts have killed at least 14 people near two churches in a Christian neighbourhood of the Pakistani city of Lahore, local officials say. |
| More than 70 people were hurt in the explosions, which targeted worshippers attending Sunday mass at the churches in the Youhanabad area. | More than 70 people were hurt in the explosions, which targeted worshippers attending Sunday mass at the churches in the Youhanabad area. |
| Violent protests erupted after the blasts, with a mob killing two men accused of involvement in the attacks. | Violent protests erupted after the blasts, with a mob killing two men accused of involvement in the attacks. |
| Pakistan's Christian community has often been targeted by militants. | Pakistan's Christian community has often been targeted by militants. |
| An offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban, calling itself Jamatul Ahrar, has said it carried out the attack. | An offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban, calling itself Jamatul Ahrar, has said it carried out the attack. |
| Witnesses say suicide bombers were responsible for the explosions but police have not confirmed this. | Witnesses say suicide bombers were responsible for the explosions but police have not confirmed this. |
| The bombers are said to have detonated their explosives near the gates of St John's Catholic Church and Christ Church. | The bombers are said to have detonated their explosives near the gates of St John's Catholic Church and Christ Church. |
| A large crowd gathered at the scene of the blasts, protesting about the lack of security. | A large crowd gathered at the scene of the blasts, protesting about the lack of security. |
| The crowd also attacked two men it accused of involvement in the explosions, killing both of them. Photographs from the scene showed a crowd setting the men's bodies alight. | The crowd also attacked two men it accused of involvement in the explosions, killing both of them. Photographs from the scene showed a crowd setting the men's bodies alight. |
| Protesters carrying sticks blocked Lahore's Ferozepur Road. Local television pictures showed a bus station being attacked. | Protesters carrying sticks blocked Lahore's Ferozepur Road. Local television pictures showed a bus station being attacked. |
| 'Scuffle at church gate' | 'Scuffle at church gate' |
| Amir Masih, a witness quoted by Reuters news agency, said he had heard an explosion near one of the churches. | Amir Masih, a witness quoted by Reuters news agency, said he had heard an 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. | "I rushed towards the spot and saw the security guard scuffle with a man who was trying to enter the church," he said. |
| The man blew himself up after failing to enter the church, Mr Masih told Reuters. | The man blew himself up after failing to enter the church, Mr Masih told Reuters. |
| Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain have condemned the latest bombings. | Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain have condemned the latest bombings. |
| Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, the chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, a rights group, said the Lahore attacks highlighted the government's failure to protect minorities. | Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, the chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, a rights group, said the Lahore attacks highlighted the government's failure to protect minorities. |
| Pakistan's military last year began an offensive against militant bases in the mountainous north-west, bordering Afghanistan. Offshoots of the Pakistani Taliban have warned of attacks in response. | Pakistan's military last year began an offensive against militant bases in the mountainous north-west, bordering Afghanistan. Offshoots of the Pakistani Taliban have warned of attacks in response. |
| However, Lahore, the capital of the densely populated Punjab province, has largely escaped militant violence and is seen as a relatively peaceful city. | However, Lahore, the capital of the densely populated Punjab province, has largely escaped militant violence and is seen as a relatively peaceful city. |
| At least 80 people were killed by bombers at a church in the Pakistani city of Peshawar in 2013, in what is thought to be the deadliest ever attack on the country's Christians. | At least 80 people were killed by bombers at a church in the Pakistani city of Peshawar in 2013, in what is thought to be the deadliest ever attack on the country's Christians. |
| Christians make up less than 2% of Pakistan's overwhelmingly Muslim population. | Christians make up less than 2% of Pakistan's overwhelmingly Muslim population. |