Suicide bombers attack Pakistan church, killing at least 9, officials say

(FOX News) -- Two suicide bombers attacked a church in Pakistan where hundreds of worshippers were attending service ahead of Christmas, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens of others, officials said.

One of the suicide bombers was shot dead outside Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, but the other assailant made it to the church's entrance hall as Sunday services opened, said Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for the southwestern Baluchistan province. The gunman -- who didn't gain access to the main building -- opened fire at the churchgoers before detonating his explosive vest.

"There were nearly 400 people inside the church, but the attackers couldn't get inside the services," provincial police chief Moazzam Jah told Reuters. "We killed one of them, and the other one exploded himself after police wounded him," he said.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack on their Aamaq news agency, saying two "plungers" from their group had stormed the church, without providing further details.

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