More than 100 people were arrested and at least 600 booked in two terror cases in the aftermath of the torching and ransacking of churches in eastern Pakistan city, police said on Thursday (Aug 17).

Jaranwala police chief Rizwan Khan said that 129 suspects had been arrested so far.

At least five churches came under attack in Jaranwala city of Faisalabad district on Wednesday, following claims that two Christian men desecrated the holy Quran.

Though the two men accused of damaging the Quran, Islam's holy book, have not been arrested, they have been charged with blasphemy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan.

So far, no casualties have been reported, the authorities said.

<h2>Situation tense on ground&nbsp;</h2>

The situation still remained tense on the ground in Jaranwala, but the local media reports indicated that life was coming back to normal with Christians slowly returning to their homes.

The district authorities have imposed Section 144 for seven days, prohibiting all kinds of assembly, except for events organised by the government.

Media reports said that at least one church was burning on Thursday and four others were also damaged.

“This was a well thought out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterwards,” a spokesperson for the provincial government of Punjab said in a statement.

At least two dozen homes belonging to Christian families were torched or badly damaged during the riots.

<h2>Punjab interim CM vows to restore churches&nbsp;</h2>

Earlier in the day, the Punjab government ordered the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident, in line with directives issued by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq.

Addressing the reporters, Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi vowed to restore all the churches and Christians’ homes within three to four days.

He also condemned Wednesday’s violence and described such incidents as anti-Islam and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-department-expresses-concern-over-attacks-on-christian-community-in-pakistan-626235">US State Department expresses concern over attacks on Christian community in Pakistan</a>

“For the future, we should sit with our minorities and chalk out a plan to prevent such incidents,” he stressed, urging religious leaders to spread the message of the Holy Quran among the people.

On Wednesday, the US urged Pakistan to investigate the mob attacks against churches and Christian homes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-mob-of-thousands-burns-churches-attacks-christian-colonies-sequence-of-events-626139">Pakistan: Mob of thousands burns churches, attacks Christian colonies | Sequence of events</a>

“We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan,” the State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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More than 100 people were arrested and at least 600 booked in two terror cases in the aftermath of the torching and ransacking of churches in eastern Pakistan city, police said on Thursday (Aug 17).

More than 100 people were arrested and at least 600 booked in two terror cases in the aftermath of the torching and ransacking of churches in eastern Pakistan city, police said on Thursday (Aug 17). Jaranwala police chief Rizwan Khan said that 129 suspects had been arrested so far. At least five churches came under attack in Jaranwala city of Faisalabad district on Wednesday, following claims that two Christian men desecrated the holy Quran. Though the two men accused of damaging the Quran, Islam's holy book, have not been arrested, they have been charged with blasphemy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan. So far, no casualties have been reported, the authorities said. Situation tense on ground The situation still remained tense on the ground in Jaranwala, but the local media reports indicated that life was coming back to normal with Christians slowly returning to their homes. The district authorities have imposed Section 144 for seven days, prohibiting all kinds of assembly, except for events organised by the government. Media reports said that at least one church was burning on Thursday and four others were also damaged. “This was a well thought out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterwards,” a spokesperson for the provincial government of Punjab said in a statement. At least two dozen homes belonging to Christian families were torched or badly damaged during the riots. Punjab interim CM vows to restore churches Earlier in the day, the Punjab government ordered the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident, in line with directives issued by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq. Addressing the reporters, Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi vowed to restore all the churches and Christians’ homes within three to four days. He also condemned Wednesday’s violence and described such incidents as anti-Islam and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet. Also read | US State Department expresses concern over attacks on Christian community in Pakistan “For the future, we should sit with our minorities and chalk out a plan to prevent such incidents,” he stressed, urging religious leaders to spread the message of the Holy Quran among the people. On Wednesday, the US urged Pakistan to investigate the mob attacks against churches and Christian homes. Also read | Pakistan: Mob of thousands burns churches, attacks Christian colonies | Sequence of events “We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan,” the State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Over 120 arrested, 600 booked on terrorism charges after Pakistan mob attacks churches

A jihadist-linked news agency released a video on Thursday showing one of the France church attackers threatening the country, a monitoring group said. 
 
Abdel Malik Petitjean, 19, was identified by French authorities on Thursday as the second jihadist in the brutal killing of an elderly priest in Normandy on Tuesday. 
 
He was added to a French security watch list last month after trying to reach Syria from Turkey. 
 
The video released by the Amaq news agency showed Petitjean, dressed in a green striped t-shirt, speaking into the camera from what appeared to be a home. 
 
The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist communications online, provided a copy of the two-and-a-half minute video. 
 
In it, Petitjean makes threats against France and directly addresses French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls. 
 
He speaks mostly in French but uses some Arabic phrases. 
 
France has been a prime target of Islamic State, which regularly calls for supporters to launch attacks there. 
 
Petitjean and Adel Kermiche, also 19, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video made before they stormed a church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on Tuesday and slit the throat of 86-year-old priest Jacques Hamel at the altar. 
 
Both assailants were shot dead by police. 
 
The attack came as the government was already facing a firestorm of criticism over alleged security failings after the Bastille Day truck massacre in Nice that left 84 people dead two weeks ago. 
 
Calls have been mounting for Valls and interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve to resign. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Petitjean makes threats against France, directly addresses French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls in the video

A jihadist-linked news agency released a video on Thursday showing one of the France church attackers threatening the country, a monitoring group said. Abdel Malik Petitjean, 19, was identified by French authorities on Thursday as the second jihadist in the brutal killing of an elderly priest in Normandy on Tuesday. He was added to a French security watch list last month after trying to reach Syria from Turkey. The video released by the Amaq news agency showed Petitjean, dressed in a green striped t-shirt, speaking into the camera from what appeared to be a home. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist communications online, provided a copy of the two-and-a-half minute video. In it, Petitjean makes threats against France and directly addresses French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls. He speaks mostly in French but uses some Arabic phrases. France has been a prime target of Islamic State, which regularly calls for supporters to launch attacks there. Petitjean and Adel Kermiche, also 19, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video made before they stormed a church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on Tuesday and slit the throat of 86-year-old priest Jacques Hamel at the altar. Both assailants were shot dead by police. The attack came as the government was already facing a firestorm of criticism over alleged security failings after the Bastille Day truck massacre in Nice that left 84 people dead two weeks ago. Calls have been mounting for Valls and interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve to resign. (AFP)

Authorities release new video of second church attacker threatening France

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Over 120 arrested, 600 booked on terrorism charges after Pakistan mob attacks churches

Authorities release new video of second church attacker threatening France