Two suicide bomb attacks in Pakistan kills 11, Taliban claims responsibility

Lahore: Two Taliban suicide bombers on Sunday blew themselves up in two packed churches during mass, killing 11 people and wounding 50 others in Pakistan’s biggest Christian neighbourhood in Lahore, the capital of Punjab. The attackers blew themselves up at the gates of Roman Catholic Church and Christ Church in Youhanabad area during Sunday mass, causing stampede as panicked worshippers ran to save their lives. [caption id=“attachment_2154935” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] At least 11 people, including policemen, were killed in the twin attacks claimed by Tahreek-i-Taliban Pakistan splinter group Jamat-ul-Ahrar. “The usual Sunday service was underway at the Christ Church and Catholic Church of Youhanabad Christian Colony when two suicide bombers reached there and tried to enter in the churches. However, when the guards stopped them from entering they blew them up,” Christian leader of the locality Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra told PTI. He said a large number of Christians were present in the churches when the incident took place. “Fifty people have been wounded in the attacks,” Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI. PTI