Peshawar church bombing

On 22 September 2013, a twin suicide bombing took place at All Saints Church[1] in Peshawar, Pakistan, in which 127 people were killed and more than 250 injured.[2][3][4] It was the deadliest attack on the Christian minority in the history of Pakistan.[5]

Peshawar church bombing
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
LocationPeshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Coordinates34°00′19″N 71°34′16″E
Date22 September 2013
TargetChristians
Attack type
Suicide bombings, Islamic terrorism, mass murder, religious hate crime
WeaponsSuicide belts
Deaths127
Injured250
PerpetratorsJundullah
Assailants2 suicide bombers
MotiveReligious discrimination in Pakistan, Persecution of Christians

Bombs

The two suicide bombers shot two security guards, killing one and injuring the other. Stopped by the police, one of the bombers detonated his device. The second bomber entered the church and detonated the bomb inside.[6] Another account tells that the suicide bomb blast occurred when the worshippers assembled for a free meal of rice near the front lawn of the church.[5] There were holes in the walls of the church and the windows of the nearby buildings were shattered by the intensity of the blasts. Bodies of the attackers were successfully identified and sent for examination. Their suicide vests were made with 6 kilograms (13 lb) of explosives inside.[6]

Perpetrators of the attack

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan-linked Islamist group Jundallah claimed responsibility for the attack.[7][8] They said that the attack on Christians and non-Muslims will continue because they are the enemies of Islam[8] and that they will not stop until US drone attacks in Pakistan cease.[9][10][11][12] However, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan denied any involvement in the incident and denied having any links with the perpetrators, saying that their affiliate is Jundul Hafsa, not Jundallah.[13]

Response of Pakistani Christians

Christians residing near the church went to the streets and started protesting by burning tires and shouting slogans. Many shops were shut in the Kohati Gate area, which is home to many other churches.[8] There were protest rallies in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and other cities to condemn the killing. There were also clashes reported in Karachi between angry protestors and police.[14]

Christian communities in Pakistan lamented "the dying future for Christians in Pakistan" given this was another in a series of recent attacks. In March, hundreds of Christians were persecuted by Islamic zealots over allegations of blasphemy against Islam, a crime under Pakistani law.[15]

Reactions

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and said terrorists have no religion and that targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Suicide bombers attack historic church in Peshawar, 60 killed". Zee News. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  2. "GHRD: Article". Global Human Rights Defense. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  3. "40 die in Pakistan bombing". BBC News. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  4. "Twin church blasts claims 66 lives in Peshawar". Dawn. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  5. "Suicide bomb attack kills 60 at Pakistan church". Associated Press via The Los Angeles Times. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  6. "Twin church blasts claim 78 lives in Peshawar". Dawn. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  7. Craig, Tim; Nawaz Khan, Haq (22 September 2013). "Dozens killed as suicide bombers attack Christian worshipers in Pakistan". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  8. "Twin suicide bomb attacks on Pakistan church kill at least 56". Reuters. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  9. Pakistan church blast kills dozens Archived 23 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine BBC 22 September 2013
  10. Bloodbath at Peshawar church Archived 23 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Nation 22 September 2013
  11. In deadliest attack on Pakistani Christians, Taliban kill 70 in historic Peshawar church Archived 11 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Times of India
  12. "Pakistan church bombing claims the lives of 85 worshippers". The World Outline. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  13. "TTP says no links with Jundullah". The News. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  14. "Suicide bombs kill 78 outside Peshawar Church, injure over 100". Geo TV. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  15. Farhan Bokhari (23 September 2013). "Pakistan Christians fear more persecution following church attack". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  16. "Church bomb in Pakistan kills at least 55, including women and children". NBC News. 22 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
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