PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Swift action by security forces prevented a major tragedy in northwestern Pakistan after four Taliban suicide attackers armed with bombs and assault rifles targeted a Christian community early Sept. 2.
One Christian security guard was killed and five others — two Christians and three security personnel — were injured in the attack on the gated community near Peshawar, capital city of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Suicide bombers with notorious terror group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jamaatul Ahraar faction, launched an attack on the area when the security guard opened the main gate.
The TTP group also had carried out the Easter attack aimed at Christians in Lahore on March 27, killing more than 70 people, including women and children, and injuring more than 300 others.
Church of Pakistan Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Peters said, “This was yet another attempt to terrorize the Christian community, but we are thankful to God that He has saved us from an attack that could have caused massive deaths,” adding that timely intervention of security forces had thwarted the terrorists’ plan to inflict maximum casualties. (MS)
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