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#Post#: 1325--------------------------------------------------
Suicide bombers kill 81 at church in Peshawar, Pakistan
By: I-Luv-Rashi Date: September 24, 2013, 4:10 am
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Suicide bombers kill 81 at church in Peshawar, Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Choir members and children
attending Sunday school were among 81 people killed in a suicide
bombing at a Protestant church in northwest Pakistan.
It was one of the deadliest attacks ever on the Christian
community in Pakistan.
The attack took place at the All Saints Church of Pakistan, in
the violence-plagued city of Peshawar, about 120 kilometers (75
miles) from the country's capital, Islamabad.
A congregation of about 500 people was attending the church. Two
attackers struck right as services concluded.
"Suicide bombers entered the church compound from the main gate
and blew themselves up in the midst of the people," a statement
posted on the diocese website read.
The outside of the church was peppered with debris. Crowds of
men and rescue officials were covered in blood.
The attack left 120 people wounded, with 10 of them in critical
condition, Dr.
Arshad Javed, chief executive of Peshawar's Lady Reading
Hospital, said Monday.
Militant attack kills 5 police officers
'Total failure'
The Rev Humphrey S. Peters, Bishop of Peshawar, expressed
condolences and called for prayers, but he also struck a defiant
tone. In a statement, Peters condemned the local government,
calling the attack a "total failure" of official efforts to
protect minorities.
His criticism was echoed by hundreds of people who took to the
streets in largely Christian areas of Pakistan, calling for
better protection of minority groups.
The All Saints Church was built in 1883 inside the old walled
city of Peshawar. It was built to resemble a mosque from the
outside, not for security reasons but to symbolize unity.
Christians make up less than 3% of the population in the South
Asian nation of 193 million. Militant groups have also targeted
other minorities including Shiite Muslims, who are significantly
outnumbered by Sunnis in Pakistan.
Pakistan released Afghan Taliban's former second-in-command
Attack claimed by Taliban offshoot
A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility
for the church attack, blaming the U.S. program of drone strikes
in tribal areas of Pakistan.
"Until and unless drone strikes are stopped, we will continue to
strike wherever we will find an opportunity against
non-Muslims," said Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for TTP-Jandullah.
The main Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP), distanced itself from the attack.
"We refuse to take responsibility for the church blast. This is
an attempt to sabotage peace talks between the TTP and the
government," said spokesman Shahidullah Shahid.
Earlier this month, Pakistani officials announced plans to
pursue peace talks with Taliban militants and withdraw troops
from parts of the volatile northwestern region, which borders
Afghanistan.
'No religion'
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday condemned the church
attack and in a statement said he was praying for the recovery
of those injured. Sharif said terrorists have "no religion" and
that targeting innocents is against Islam.
But Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, of which Peshawar is the capital, is
rife with Islamic extremists and has been the site of clashes
between Pakistani security forces and militants.
Earlier this month, a roadside bomb in the province killed a top
Pakistani general, just a day after the announcement of the
plans for peace talks.
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