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| Terror Networks |
| 15 Christians killed in Bahawalpur |
| 2001-10-28 |
BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan - Women keened over the bodies of 15 Christians lying in pools of blood in a Pakistani church Sunday after masked gunmen on motorcycles drew up, shot dead a police guard and sprayed the congregation with Kalashnikov fire. ``We are investigating and we will take action against whosoever is involved, no matter what their religion,'' Senior Superintendent of Police Arif Ikram said. ``This is terrorism,'' he told Reuters. Police sent reinforcements to town and the army patrolled the streets as Christians called a protest strike. As some 70 Christians gathered for regular Sunday morning services, six men on three motorcycles rode up to Saint Dominic's Church and pulled AK47 assault rifles out of their bags, one witness said. Shouting ``Graveyard of Christians -- Pakistan and Afghanistan,'' and ``This is just a start,'' they raced up to the church while the guards were asleep and opened fire, killing one. Five worshippers were wounded, four critically, doctors said. Four gunmen entered the church chanting ``Allah-u-Akbar'' (God is Greater) while two waited outside to shoot anyone who tried to flee, a witness said. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |