Christians in northwest Pakistan narrowly escaped with their lives after security forces foiled a suicide bomb plot against them. Security guard Samuel Masih opened his community's main gate to four Taliban bombers -- and died in a hail of bullets. Two other guards were injured, as were two soldiers and a policeman.
However, the swift response of Samuel's colleagues meant that a greater tragedy was averted. One of the suicide bombers was killed after igniting his bomb, but thankfully there were no other casualties as a result of the blast. Security officials intervened by killing the three other suicide bombers.
The 30 Christian families residing within the gated community near Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were unharmed. The Pakistani Taliban reported that the bombers carried out this attack on Friday, September 2nd. The same extremist group involved in this attack claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attack that took place in Lahore on March 27th of this year -- resulting in more than 70 killed and numerous others injured. Information on the Lahore bombing incident can be reviewed here.
Pray that God will comfort and provide for Samuel's widow, Razia, and their five children. Ask the Lord to heal Samuel's colleagues who were injured in this recent attack, offering praise that the lives of those residing within the gated community were spared. Also continue to uphold the families still experiencing the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attack in Lahore. May all our brothers and sisters throughout Pakistan receive the assurance that they are not forgotten by their global Christian family. May God strengthen their faith -- and our solidarity with them.