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Church damaged, Christians injured as car bomb explodes in Karachi
Around 3:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m. Eastern) today, Karachi police received an anonymous tip that the Pakistan Bible Society would be attacked. Indeed, it was, but the tip itself was apparently part of the attack.

As police arrived, two motorcyclists reportedly drove up, threw a small explosive device—reportedly a firecracker—at the Bible society's offices, then drove away. That attack, along with the police tip, was apparently designed to draw a crowd. The real attack came about 15 minutes later, when a car parked nearby exploded. (The car was reportedly stolen earlier in the day from a government official.)

"We were investigating the first explosion when the second explosion occurred," Mohammed Iqbal, deputy superintendent of a paramilitary force called the Rangers, told the Associated Press (photos). "It was a sudden and huge explosion."

At least twelve Pakistanis were injured, including six police and Rangers and at least two Bible Society employees. (China's Xinhua news agency is the only outlet reporting one death.) The nearby Holy Trinity Church, a Karachi landmark, was also damaged in the blast.

"This terrorist act has increased the sense of insecurity among Christians," Shahbaz Bhatti, head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, told the news service. "We are shocked, grieved and worried. … These people are hell-bent on creating anarchy in the country."

Expect more details in the next few days, and keep your eyes on Pakistan Christian Post's web site.

Church attacked in Sri Lanka
While Muslims were presumably behind the attack in Pakistan, Buddhists continue to attack in Sri Lanka. St. Michael's Church in Katuwana, Homagama, is the latest victim in a series of half a dozen church burnings and attacks across the country. The attacks have increased after the death of radical Buddhist monk Gangodavila Soma. The church apparently suffered about $5,000 in damages, with statues and crosses inside completely destroyed.

Church member Dion de Silva told the AFP news agency that he thinks the attack was related to an angry visit two months ago by two dozen or so Buddhist monks, who accused the church of converting local Buddhists.

"We told them that we don't do that sort of thing, but they still pulled down our cross and put up a Buddhist flag," de Silva said. "There has been no action taken following our complaint at the time."

Religious freedom:

• Vietnam postpones trial of Protestant pastor | The general secretary of the Full Gospel Church of Vietnam, Bui Van Ba, is facing charges of obstructing police (Radio Australia)
• Parishad attacks missionary school | Incensed by the alleged rape and murder of a nine-year-old on a Catholic Mission School campus in Jhabua last night, a mob of VHP activists today forced their way into the campus, pelted stones and attacked the priests there (The Indian Express)
• Modi sidelines Christians, Muslims | The ongoing Gujarati diaspora festival showcased some minority communities, but it left out two leading minority groups—Christians and Muslims—inviting criticism for Gujarat's Chief Minister (The Times of India)
• Proposal to beatify convert stirs controversy | A proposal by the Catholics Bishops Conference of India to recommend the beatification of an 18th century convert to Christianity has stirred up a huge controversy in Kerala (Indo-Asian News Service)
• 'Church doesn't promote forcible conversion' | The allegation that the Catholic Church in India used money for religious conversion has no basis and the 'misunderstanding' on the subject is mainly due to 'misrepresentation' of the concept of evangelization, Vatican's envoy to India, Rev. Pedro Lepz Quintana, said (PTI)

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January (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48