Quetta, Dec. 17 (TNS): Death toll reached to 8 in Quetta church attack while 44 sustained injuries in Sunday ambush, officials said here.
Eight people including two women were killed and 44 injured on Sunday as terrorists attacked the Bethel Memorial Church located on Zarghoon Road, Civil Hospital spokesperson Dr Waseem Baig confirmed.
Dr Baig said nine of those being treated for injuries were in critical condition.
All casualties were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta. Hospital officials said they had initially received five bodies and around 20 injured, including women and children. Three of the injured passed away while undergoing treatment for their injuries.
At least two suicide attackers had struck the Bethel Memorial Church while service was ongoing. There were 400 worshipers inside the church when it came under attack, IG Ansari said.
Police assigned to the church’s security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy, IG Ansari claimed. Eyewitnesses and provincial lawmaker Aniqa Irfan, who had reached the church soon after the attack, confirmed.
One of the attackers was reported to have detonated his suicide vest near the church’s main door after receiving critical injuries. Another was shot dead near the church’s entrance by security forces after an intense gunfight, the police chief said.
Two gunmen were managed to flee the scene during operation, officials said adding that search operation kicked off to arrest the escaped terrorists.
The Bethel Memorial Church has been the target of a terrorist attack in the past. Security had been beefed up for the church after the last attack, which occurred a few years ago. The church is located in the city’s high-security zone.
