2 Church Suspects, 2 Others Die in Escape Bid

Pakistani militants attacked a police van in an attempt to free imprisoned comrades, triggering a gun battle that left four militants dead, including the two prisoners, who were accused in an October attack that killed 16 people at a Christian church in the town of Bahawalpur.

The van was ambushed by three men in a car near the village of Karore Pakka in the eastern province of Punjab, officials said. The third attacker was being hunted.

Police said the militants were believed to be followers of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an outlawed Sunni Muslim group that has targeted Christians and minority Shiite Muslims.