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Published 17 Mar, 2015 02:11pm

Three metro stations vandalised in Youhannabad riots

LAHORE: As several areas of the city remain besieged by demonstrators two days after the Taliban attack on churches in Lahore’s Youhanabad neighbourhood, an enraged mob on Tuesday vandalised three Metro Bus stations and destroyed a bus.

The Metro Bus station in Youhanabad reportedly incurred the worst damage while those of Nishtar Colony and Dhulwa neighbourhoods were partially damaged.

Also read: Christians in city protest against Lahore attacks

According to authorities, ticket-vending machines worth Rs10 million were smashed to pieces by the violent crowd.

The ongoing violence which took place as funeral services of those slain in the church attacks were being held, are in spite of the presence of security officials in large numbers.

Episodes of mob violence have been taking place for the past two days, and were also the cause behind the suspension of motorway bus service.

Thousands of Christian protesters burnt tyres and attacked cars and petrol pumps with stones and sticks hours after the attacks.

The loss incurred by the National Treasury due to the destruction of infrastructure by the mob is estimated in millions of rupees.

At least 15 people were killed and more than 70 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked churches in Lahore on Sunday, sparking mob violence in which two other suspected militants died.

The bombings occurred during prayers at two churches located around half a kilometre apart in the city's Youhanabad neighbourhood that is home to more than 100,000 Christians, officials said.

Sunday's attacks — claimed by the Taliban's splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar — were the worst on the community since a devastating 2013 double suicide-bombing in Peshawar that killed 82 people.

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