A crowd of Muslims attacked a Christian community in eastern Pakistan today, damaging several churches and setting fire to dozens of homes after accusing members of desecrating the Koran, police said and community leaders said.

The incident took place in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, police spokesman Naveed Ahmad said. A violent mob attacked the community after two Christians were accused of blasphemy, he said.

The site has been cordoned off as police try to negotiate with the crowdprovincial police chief Usman Anwar told English-language website Dawn.com.

A large church and several smaller ones were vandalized, he said. Dozens of people blocked a highway nearby.

The local administration called in paramilitary units to deal with the violent crowd and bring the situation under control, according to a government order seen by Reuters.

A Christian leader, Ahmal Bati, said the mob set fire to at least five churches and took valuables by looting homes that had been abandoned by their owners when clerics made announcements at mosques inciting the mob.

Posts on social media show churches, as well as homes and personal belongings, burning.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan and although no one has been executed, many accused have been lynched by angry mobs.

Human rights groups say blasphemy charges are also being falsely used to incite crowds. Hundreds of people languish in prison on blasphemy charges as judges often postpone trials, fearing reprisals if they are seen as too lenient, they say.