IS claims pre-Christmas suicide bombing of Pakistan church

17 December 2017, 4:21 pm

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A suicide bomb attack on a Pakistan church that killed at least eight people and wounded 30 during a service earlier today is claimed by the Islamic State group.

In a brief statement on its Amaq news agency, the jihadist group claimed responsibility.

Earlier, officials said police intercepted and shot dead one attacker outside the church before he could detonate his bomb. But the second managed to reach the church’s main door, where he blew himself up.

“Police were quick to react and stop the attackers from entering into the main hall,” provincial police chief Moazzam Jah tells AFP.

Each attacker was carrying 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of explosive plus grenades, says civil defense official Aslam Tareen.

— with AFP