Choir members and children attending Sunday school were among 81 people killed in a suicide bombing at a Protestant church in northwest Pakistan . It was one of the deadliest attacks ever on the Christian community in Pakistan . The attack took place at the All Saints Church of Pakistan , in the violence-plagued city of Peshawar , about 120 kilometers ( 75 miles ) from the country 's capital , Islamabad . A congregation of about 500 people was attending the church . Two attackers struck right as services concluded . `` Suicide bombers entered the church compound from the main gate and blew themselves up in the midst of the people , '' a statement posted on the diocese website read . The outside of the church was peppered with debris . Crowds of men and rescue officials were covered in blood . The attack left 120 people wounded , with 10 of them in critical condition , Dr. Arshad Javed , chief executive of Peshawar 's Lady Reading Hospital , said Monday . Militant attack kills 5 police officers . 'Total failure ' The Rev Humphrey S. Peters , Bishop of Peshawar , expressed condolences and called for prayers , but he also struck a defiant tone . In a statement , Peters condemned the local government , calling the attack a `` total failure '' of official efforts to protect minorities . His criticism was echoed by hundreds of people who took to the streets in largely Christian areas of Pakistan , calling for better protection of minority groups . The All Saints Church was built in 1883 inside the old walled city of Peshawar . It was built to resemble a mosque from the outside , not for security reasons but to symbolize unity . Christians make up less than 3 % of the population in the South Asian nation of 193 million . Militant groups have also targeted other minorities including Shiite Muslims , who are significantly outnumbered by Sunnis in Pakistan . Pakistan released Afghan Taliban 's former second-in-command . Attack claimed by Taliban offshoot . A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the church attack , blaming the U.S. program of drone strikes in tribal areas of Pakistan . `` Until and unless drone strikes are stopped , we will continue to strike wherever we will find an opportunity against non-Muslims , '' said Ahmed Marwat , a spokesman for TTP-Jandullah . The main Pakistani Taliban , known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan ( TTP ) , distanced itself from the attack . `` We refuse to take responsibility for the church blast . This is an attempt to sabotage peace talks between the TTP and the government , '' said spokesman Shahidullah Shahid . Earlier this month , Pakistani officials announced plans to pursue peace talks with Taliban militants and withdraw troops from parts of the volatile northwestern region , which borders Afghanistan . 'No religion ' Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday condemned the church attack and in a statement said he was praying for the recovery of those injured . Sharif said terrorists have `` no religion '' and that targeting innocents is against Islam . But Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , of which Peshawar is the capital , is rife with Islamic extremists and has been the site of clashes between Pakistani security forces and militants . Earlier this month , a roadside bomb in the province killed a top Pakistani general , just a day after the announcement of the plans for peace talks .
The death toll rises to 81 , a hospital official says . A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility . The Pakistani Taliban distances itself from the bombing . The attack is one of the deadliest ever on the Christian community in Pakistan .