Lahore (AsiaNews) – Two bombs, targeting the federal police Headquarters and a residential area in Lahore, (in the east of the country) a few hours ago, have killed at least 20 people: among them two children. The detonation also damaged Sacred Heart Cathedral, the bishop's residence, a school dedicated to St Anthony and the Caritas buildings: all of these buildings in fact are situated close by the police head quarters, the target of the first attack.
Two Christians were among the victims: a child of 3 – the daughter of the driver Archbishop Saldanha – and one of the guards who patrolled the Caritas building. The windows of the church were destroyed in the explosion along with the main gate.
Peter Jacob, secretary of the Bishop’s Commission for Justice and Peace was in the Cathedral at the moment of the explosion. Speaking to AsiaNews he says: “We strenuously condemn these terrorist acts. The new government needs to deal with the issue of security as soon as possible”. Damage to Christian property says Jacob "amounts to about 10 million Rupees [circa 100mila euro ed]. The worst loss remains the precious and ancient stained glass windows of the Cathedral”.
Immediately after the explosion, the Australian cricket team cancelled a scheduled game in Pakistan “for security reasons”. Mizra Mohammed Yazin, a federal police official, explains that the bomb went off within the building, which is damaged and still burning. In the multi story building, two to three hundred people work: the death toll appears destined to rise.
The security emergency continues in the country, despite the recent elections handing victory to moderates. Despite it not being a usual target, Lahore has witnessed the death or 30 people in recent months due to terrorist attacks.