Suicide Bombers Kill 78 Christians Outside Pakistani Church
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)– Coming on the heels of a murderous attack by militant Islamists on an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, a pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the entrance of an historic Anglican church nestled within the walled city of Peshawar, Pakistan on Sunday, January 22, just as services were ending, killing 78 Christians and wounding more than 100 others.
According to Reuters, dual explosions rocked All Saints just as hundreds of parishioners were leaving the church. Almost immediately, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jundullah claimed responsibility for the attack.
“They are the enemies of Islam, therefore we target them,” said Jundullah spokesman Ahmed Marwat. “We will continue our attacks on non-Muslims on Pakistani land.”
Some of the Christians — who compose only four percent of Pakistan’s 180 million Sunni Muslims — burned tires in the streets of Peshawar to protest the lack of security around the church.
Similar protests by other Christians were also reported in Karachi and Multan.
UPDATE:
The New York Times reports that the death toll has now risen to 85 after two suicide bombers rushed the church doors as worshipers were leaving All Saints after service; one attacker exploded his vest inside the entrance, the other just outside.