In the tense aftermath, angry mobs lashed out at people they suspected of involvement in the attacks ? including one person who was burned to death ? and Christian crowds set fire to cars in a show of defiance in the country's second largest city and the prime minister's seat of power.
"The enraged people took two suspects into custody whom they believed to be the accomplices of the suicide bombers. The suspects confessed that they were the accomplices of the suicide bombers and had come here to monitor the operation," Sarfraz Emneual, a local resident, said.
Police present there did not stop the mob from 'executing' the suspects, reports said.
"We did not stop the enraged mob as there could have been a clash between the police and the mob," deputy inspector general (DIG) Lahore Haider Ashraf said.
READ ALSO: 11 dead in suicide attack on two churches in Pakistan's Lahore
Life in Pakistan is increasingly fraught with danger for religious minorities, especially Christians. They have been targeted by extremist Sunni Muslim militants who object to their faith.
They are also discriminated against in the wider society where they can often only get menial jobs like garbage collection, and are frequently targets of blasphemy accusations.
The explosions occurred in quick succession in the Christian neighborhood of Youhana Abad at two churches while parishioners were celebrating Sunday morning services inside. The churches are about 600 meters (650 yards) apart.
At least 70 people were wounded, said Zahid Pervez, the provincial director general of health, who gave the death toll.
A Pakistani Christian woman mourns over a family member who was killed from a suicide bombing attack near two churches in Pakistan. (AP photo)
One unidentified witness told Pakistan's Geo television that the main gate to one of the churches targeted was closed so people were using a smaller gate.
"One bomber exploded himself near that gate, that created chaos and during the course there was another blast," he said.
Jamatul Ahrar, an offshoot of the Tehreek-e-Taliban, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, according to reports.
The attack has led to retaliatory protests.
READ ALSO: ISI cultivated Taliban to counter Indian action: Musharraf
According to TV reports, people indulged in violence and vandalized public property.
Earlier, after the attack, an enraged mob severely beat two suspects alleged to be involved in the attack.
They later set them on fire. Their bodies were completely charred.
In the aftermath of the blasts the mood quickly turned violent. Much of the country is on edge after years of militant violence including an attack on a Peshawar school in December that killed 150 people ? mostly students.
Pakistani Christian girls mourn over a family member who was killed from a suicide bombing attack near two churches in Lahore. (AP photo)
Local television footage showed an angry crowd beating a person they thought was connected to the attack, while others attacked buses in the city. The crowds burned to death one person they believed was involved in the attack and tried to lynch another, said Haider Ashraf, deputy inspector general for Lahore.
Two police who were protecting the churches were also killed in the explosions, which he confirmed were caused by suicide bombers.A spokesman for the Punjab province government condemned the attacks but also said it was unfortunate that the mob had attacked suspects. He said authorities are reinforcing security at the 481 remaining churches across the city.
Militants appear to be targeting minorities more intensively recently, including attacks on a string of mosques belonging to members of the Shiite Muslim minority sect. In 2013, twin blasts at a church in Peshawar killed 85 people.
"There will be more of such attacks," warned Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesman for the Taliban faction that claimed responsibility for the assault, in a statement emailed to reporters.
READ ALSO: UN chief asks Pakistan to step up efforts to combat terror
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has his power base in Lahore and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, also runs the Punjab government, where his brother is chief minister. The provincial government has been accused in the past of not doing enough to protect religious minorities and reign in extremist groups based in the province who often whip up religious sentiment against minorities.
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