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.
Home Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti told that two suicide bombers stormed the church, one of whom was shot dead at the entrance. The other suicide bomber blew himself up outside the church hall.
"The terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church. The police and FC guards present stopped this from happening," said Bugti.
According to Bugti, Pakistan was fighting the war on terrorism from the front and there were reports of such an attack taking place.
In a post on Twitter, Bugti added that law enforcement agencies took 16 minutes to complete the operation which was led by CCPO, DC Quetta and IGP Balochistan.
Inspector General Police (IGP) Balochistan, Moazzam Ansari confirmed to media that 400 people were present inside the church at the time of the attack and a major tragedy was avoided due to the quick response of security forces.
"The suicide bombers were unable to enter the main building of the church. If they were able to do this and we did not have security deployed to neutralise them, they would have caused a lot of damage," said Ansari, adding “security forces have cleared the church.”
According to DIG Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema two terrorists were on the run after the attack.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has ordered a report pertaining to the attack from IGP Balochistan.
The church had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, according to its Facebook page and was holding a ‘Sunday School Christmas Programme’ at the time of the attack.
An emergency was declared at hospitals across Quetta - Photo Salman Ashraf
Condemnations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal condemned the attack.
He shared on Twitter: "Attack of terrorists on Zarghoon road church in Quetta is condemned. Pakistan’s resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts."
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack as a sign of “cowardice” and said Pakistan’s enemies want to spread violence in the country.
“We are fighting a war against these terror elements,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan strongly condemned the terror attack. "The govt must ensure special protection for churches as Christmas approaches. My prayers go to the victims' families and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Khan tweeted.
On March 15, 2015, fifteen people were killed and more than 70 injured after Taliban suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahore’s Youhanabad neighbourhood.
