According to eye-witnesses and district administration, members of Christian community were busy in their weekly religious service when a suicide bomber entered the Church and detonated himself, resulting in the death of several people including women and children. Police claimed to have found the head of the suspected suicide bomber. The bodies and injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), where emergency was declared and doctors on leave were called in.
According to sources, initially the hospital was lacking doctors and other staff, but later they were recalled.
Talking to media at the hospital, Deputy Commissioner, Peshawar said that the whole nation shared the grief of Christian community. He said that the legislators of the ruling party and special team of Chief Minister visited the hospital and the injured were being provided better medical treatment.
He said that at the time of the explosion about 500 to 600 worshipers were present in the church. However, independence sources said that over 2000 Christians usually attend the Sunday service in the church.
The DC requested the people to cooperate with hospital administration in provision of treatment to the injured. After the deadly suicide attack, angry youth of Christian community staged protest demonstrations in different areas.
They were angry over poor security measures at their worship places. However, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Mohammad Ali Babakhel rejected the impression, saying that one of the police cop deployed at the church was also killed while attempting to foil the terrorist bid.
The angry Christians marched on different roads and demanded protection against terrorism. They also blocked main G.T. Road near Bala Hisar Fort for all kind of vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Engineer Shaukatullah has ordered to shift the mobile hospitals meant for FATA to Peshawar as an emergent step to facilitate the injured.
The mobile hospitals are fully-equipped with modern emergency medical care facilities, besides well-trained medical experts and paramedics. Keeping in view the urgency of the matter, the step has been taken to facilitate the suffering brethren and sisters and help them in ensuring their early recovery.
The attack on the Church has attracted widespread condemnation. The International Faith Council strongly condemned the incident and announced the closure of all missionary schools and colleges for three days.
Awami National Party (ANP) has announced three-day mourning over the incident. Former provincial minister for information Mian Iftikhar once again won the hearts of the people, when he arrived at the hospital to express solidarity with the injured and the families of those killed in the incident.
Bitterly criticising the provincial government, he said that the rulers had no anti-terror policy and failed in provision of security to the worship places of minorities. Mian Iftikhar said that due to the holding of All Parties Conference (APC) terrorists were finding an opportunity to re-organise their ranks. He was of the view that the government should be with the people. He said that they were political people and will remain with them in any circumstance.