At least 14 dead, dozens wounded in twin blasts at Christian churches in Lahore, Pakistan

2015/03/15
Enraged Christians lynch a man they suspected of being involved in a suicide attack on a church in Lahore March 15, 2015 (Reuters / Mohsin Raza)

The explosions happened minutes apart, during the Sunday services, in the mainly Christian suburb.


Two churches were targeted: one Catholic, and one Protestant. They are located near each other. Bombers detonated the devices near the gates of both churches.


"I was sitting at a shop near the church when a blast jolted the area. I rushed towards the spot and saw the security guard scuffle with a man who was trying to enter the church, after failing, he blew himself up. I saw his body parts flying through the air," witness Amir Masih told Reuters.



The guard was killed as well, Masih added.


The death toll of 14 people may rise, as “rescue operations are still under way,” rescue services spokesman Sajjad Hussain said.


READ MORE: 141 people, mostly students killed by Taliban in Pakistan army school seizure


Following the explosions, locals lynched two men they suspected were involved, and journalist Riaz Ahmed told Reuters he had seen two burned bodies at an intersection.


The local Taliban faction Jamatul Ahrar has claimed responsibility for the deadly blasts. Attacks on religious institutions in Lahore have become more frequent since last year when the Pakistani government refused to hold peace negotiations with the Taliban.


The previous largest attack on Christians in Pakistan occurred in 2013, when 80 people were killed by bombers at a church in Peshawar.


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