Islamic State Strikes Christians Worshiping in a Pakistani Church as Genocide Expands this Christmas

Suicide bombers killed at least nine Christians and wounded over fifty this past Sunday in Pakistan. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two suicide bombers attacked Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan, during Sunday services.

According to information received by the Organization for Legal Aid (OLA), affiliate office of our European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), local media, and contacts in Quetta, about 200 worshippers were attending the Sunday service.

Video footage shows the church security guard seeing two men approaching the church. When he saw one of them holding a rifle, he ran inside and locked the main gate. One attacker climbed over the gate and let the other attacker in.

They killed the security guard and started shooting at the worshipers. One detonated the suicide vest at the entrance of the sanctuary.

According to a Pakistani daily, “[p]olice guards stationed at the church entrance and on its roof killed one of the bombers.” The Balochistan police chief, Moazzam Jah, said that the church “was on high alert as Christian places of worship are often targeted by extremists over the Christmas season.”

Many of the victims of this Sunday’s attack are in critical condition and the death toll is rising. According to the information we have at this time, about six more have died at the hospital and another dozen are in critical condition.

Last year on Easter Sunday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of a public park in Pakistan, killing over 70 people. Just two weeks ago, a bomb exploded at the gate of a Christian village in Chaman, Balochistan, killing a Christian boy.

We request prayers for the victims and their families. We will update you as we receive new information.