| Church carnage kills 78 
* More than 100 injured as twin suicide blasts hit Sunday service at All Saints Church
* KP govt announces three days of mourning
* TTP Jundullah says 'Christians enemies of Islam'
PESHAWAR: A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a 130-year-old church in the city after Sunday Mass, killing at least 78 people in the deadliest attack on Christians in the country.
Explosions struck the historic white-stone All Saints Church in Kohati Gate area as hundreds of parishioners, many of them women and children, streamed out of the building. "I heard two explosions. People started to run. Human remains were strewn all over the church," said one parishioner, who only gave her first name, Margrette. Her voice breaking with emotion, she said she had not seen her sister since the explosions ripped through the gate area outside the Anglican church.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the death toll of 78 included 34 women and seven children, in remarks televised live from Peshawar. More than 100 were wounded. "Who are these terrorists killing women and children?" Nisar said. The Taliban-linked militant group TTP Jundullah claimed responsibility within hours of the attack. "They are the enemies of Islam, therefore we target them," said the group's spokesman, Ahmed Marwat. "We will continue our attacks on non-Muslims on Pakistani land."
The government announced three days of mourning over the attack. Sunday's attacks could complicate efforts by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to engage militants in meaningful peace negotiations at a time when roadside bombs, targeted killings and suicide attacks continue unabated. "The prime minister said that terrorists have no religion and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions," his office said in a statement. "He added that such cruel acts of terrorism reflect the brutality and inhumane mind set of the terrorists." Attacks on Christian areas occur sporadically around the country but Sunday's assault, in a densely populated Christian residential area in the old walled city in Peshawar, was the most violent in recent history.
Between 400 and 500 worshippers were present at the Sunday mass service at the time of the attack, according to an eyewitness. Lady Reading Hospital's Dr Arshad Jawed confirmed 61 people were killed, whereas 130 others were injured in the attack. According to city police chief Ismail Tariq two attackers opened fire at the security guards deployed at the church, killing one and injuring the other before entering the church premises. He said the two explosions happened within 30 seconds of each other. Police told media that the first attack happened moments after the service ended and when worshippers were leaving the church. The suicide bomber tried to attack the people, but when he was stopped by the police he detonated the bomb. The second blast was carried out inside the church.
The bombers had used six kilogrammes of explosives to carry out the attack, explosives expert Shafqat Malik told journalists at the site the attack. "Two suicide bombers had carried out the attack and their body parts had been recovered and sent for forensic examinations." Enraged Christian protesters damaged the emergency service at the Lady Reading Hospital and chanted slogans against the provincial government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Kohati Gate area is home to at least three churches and several imambargahs. Imambargahs have been targeted in the area in the past but this was the first time that a church has been attacked.
Schoolteacher Nazir Khan said the service had just ended and at least 400 worshippers were greeting each other when there was a huge explosion. "A huge blast threw me on the floor and as soon as I regained my senses, a second blast took place and I saw wounded people everywhere," Khan told AFP. An AFP reporter saw shreds of human flesh and bloodstains on the walls and floor of the church, whose windows had been ripped apart by the blast. Grieving relatives blocked the main Grand Trunk Road highway with bodies of the victims to protest against the killings, an AFP reporter said.
Shops were closed in the Kohati Gate area where several other churches are located. "Terrorists have not spared mosques, temples and churches. Please have mercy on us," one man outside the church, his face distorted by fear and anger, told a private television channel. Protests by Christians were also reported in other cities including Karachi and Multan. A bomb disposal security source said there were two explosions carried out by a pair of attackers. Former minister for inter-faith harmony Paul Bhatti and provincial lawmaker Fredrich Azeem Ghauri both said the attack was the deadliest ever targeting Christians in Pakistan. staff report/agencies
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