At least 10 dead in attack on Lahore churches

LAHORE, 15 March :  Twin blasts rocked the Roman Catholic Church and Christ Church in Lahore’s Youhanabad area. Both churches have high attendance on Sundays on account of mass.

Initial reports suggest two suicide bombers carried out the attack.

Youhanabad is the country’s biggest Christian locality, housing at least one million people. The Christian community in Pakistan has long been the target of attacks and hate crimes carried out by extremist elements.

In 2013, twin suicide attacks were carried out at the All Saint’s Church in Peshawar’s Kohati Gate area, killing 80 and wounding over 100 others.

Major developments

Suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gate of two churches

At least ten people have died in the attack

TTP splinter group Jamatul Ahrar claims responsibility for the attack

One young man was lynched by the enraged mob.(agency)