1st LD Writethru: UN chief slams terrorist attacks on churches in Pakistan
Xinhua, March 17, 2015 Adjust font size:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on two Christian churches in Lahore, Pakistan, during morning services on Sunday, and called on the Pakistani government to "swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice and to do its utmost to prevent attacks against places of worship and protect religious minorities. "
The secretary-general notes with grave concern that the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks while threatening to carry out more such acts in the future, said a statement read by the deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq.
Ban extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 70 others injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked churches in Lahore on Sunday, reports said.
The two powerful explosions rocked the Catholic Church and Christ Church in the city's Youhanabad area, home to more than 100, 000 Christians, the biggest Christian population in the country.
Around 500 people were attending the Sunday prayer inside the churches when the attacks struck.
A militant group allied to the Islamist Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, reports said, adding that it vowed to continue attacks "until an Islamic system" is established in the country.
The Pakistani Taliban has been waging an insurgency against the state and has targeted mosques, churches and other places of worship. The violence has claimed tens of thousands of lives over the past decade. Endite