Quetta church attack attempt to create religious cleavages: Army Chief

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday condemned the terrorist attack at Quetta’s church that claimed at least eight lives and injured over dozens, viewing it ‘an attempt to create religious cleavages.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief said the attack at Quetta’s Bethel Memorial Church intended to cloud Christmas celebrations.

“Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations / create religious cleavages. Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts: COAS,” tweeted DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor on his official twitter account.

Earlier today, at least eight people were killed while 35 others injured when two gunmen wearing explosives-filled vests attacked Bethel Memorial Methodist Church located on Quetta’s Zarghoon Road.

Talking to ARY News, Home Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz said as per initial reports two suicide attackers stormed the church when Sunday service was ongoing, one of them detonated his charge inside the church while the other was shot dead by security personnel at the entrance to the church.

The provincial police chief confirmed two suicide bombers attacked the church when Sunday service was ongoing.

He said security personnel deployed at the church shot and killed one of the attackers, while another exploded his explosive-filled vest after being wounded at the main gate of the church.

There were about 400 worshipers inside the church, but security forces’ timely response averted more casualties, he added.