New Delhi: Two powerful blasts, both believed to have been triggered by suicide attackers, targeting a Church and a nearby school, killed 10 people and injured at least 50 others in Lahore's Youhanabad area on Sunday. Witnesses said quick action by a security guard prevented many more deaths.
The blasts targeting the Roman Catholic Church at about 11.30 am caused widespread panic and anger in Youhanabad area.
The Jamaat-al-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a message sent to the media.
The church was packed with worshippers who had gathered for the Sunday service at the time of the blasts. People ran out of the building in fear. The second blast went off about five minutes after the first one.
Local residents told the media a suicide attacker blew himself up outside the church after he was stopped by a security guard.
Youhanabad is Pakistan's largest Christian neighbourhood and is home to about 200,000 people. The blasts triggered anger among local residents, who protested against the government's failure to provide adequate security to the area and the church.
Militants in Pakistan have attacked Christians and other religious minorities often over the last decade or more. Many blame the government for doing little to protect them.
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