Pakistan: Suicide Bombing At Peshawar Church

At least 78 people have been killed in a double suicide bomb attack on a Christian church in northwest Pakistan, officials say.

A man cries at the death of his brother at the site of the blast

A man cries over the death of his brother in the blast A man comforts a woman as she cries over the death of her relatives at the site of a blast at a church in Peshawar

A man comforts a woman as she cries over the death of her relatives at the site of a blast at a church in Peshawar

Around 400 people were at the service

Another 120 people were wounded when the two bombers blew themselves up as worshippers left the church in Peshawar city, which had been offering a free meal of rice.

At least 34 women and seven children were among the dead, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.

Nazir John, one of those at the church, said: "There were blasts and there was hell for all of us.

"When I got my senses back, I found nothing but smoke, dust, blood and screaming people.

"I saw severed body parts and blood all around."

Peshawar's commissioner Sahibzada Anees told reporters the bombers struck when the service had just ended.

"Most of the wounded are in critical condition," he said, adding that special security had been in force to protect the church.

A man and woman mourn the death of their relatives at the site of a blast at a church in Peshawar

Islamic militants are thought to be behind the attack

"We are in an area which is a target of terrorism and within that area there was a special security arrangement for the church.

"We are in a rescue phase and once it is over we will investigate what went wrong,"

Witnesses said they heard two blasts, the second more powerful than the first.

Men carry an injured women on a stretcher at the site of a suicide blast at a church in Peshawar

An injured person is taken away from the scene of destruction

Najeeb Bogvi, a senior police officer, said: "After the service ended, people started to come out and the suicide bomber rushed towards them."

Schoolteacher Nazir Khan, 50, said: "A huge blast threw me on the floor and as soon as I regained my senses, a second blast took place and I saw wounded people everywhere."

It is the country's deadliest ever assault on Christians.

A Christian woman mourns the death of her son at the site of a suicide blast at a church in Peshawar

A woman mourns a victim of the attack

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's office said in a statement: "The Prime Minister said that terrorists have no religion and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions.

"He added that such cruel acts of terrorism reflect the brutality and inhumane mind set of the terrorists."

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion will likely fall on one of the country's many Islamic militant groups.

Islamic militants have been blamed for previous attacks on the Muslim country's Christian minority, and other Muslim groups they consider heretics.

Christians make up about 4% of Pakistan's population of 180 million

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