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Many killed in Pakistan bombing | Many killed in Pakistan bombing |
(about 4 hours later) | |
More than 30 people have been killed and dozens injured in a bomb attack on a religious procession in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials say. | More than 30 people have been killed and dozens injured in a bomb attack on a religious procession in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials say. |
The attack targeted Shia worshippers in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan. | The attack targeted Shia worshippers in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan. |
They were leaving a mosque when the bomb went off. It is not clear who carried out the attack or whether it was the work of a suicide bomber. | |
Sectarian tensions in southern Punjab have in recent years been aggravated by the growing strength of Sunni Taleban. | Sectarian tensions in southern Punjab have in recent years been aggravated by the growing strength of Sunni Taleban. |
'Terrorist' | 'Terrorist' |
Police are investigating whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. | Police are investigating whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. |
"It appears to have been a suicide bombing, as there was no crater in the aftermath of the blast," local police chief Masud-ul-Hasan said. | "It appears to have been a suicide bombing, as there was no crater in the aftermath of the blast," local police chief Masud-ul-Hasan said. |
Meanwhile, local police commissioner Hasan Iqbal told reporters: "It appears to have been a planted device." | Meanwhile, local police commissioner Hasan Iqbal told reporters: "It appears to have been a planted device." |
He called it a terrorist attack aimed at Shias to create unrest. | He called it a terrorist attack aimed at Shias to create unrest. |
Television footage showed bodies surrounded by debris and ambulances, with survivors wailing and beating their heads in grief. | Television footage showed bodies surrounded by debris and ambulances, with survivors wailing and beating their heads in grief. |
Some reports speak of protests in the town. | Some reports speak of protests in the town. |
Southern Punjab is home to a number of violent sectarian groups with links to al-Qaeda and the Taleban. | Southern Punjab is home to a number of violent sectarian groups with links to al-Qaeda and the Taleban. |
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, one of Pakistan's most ruthless militant groups, is blamed for most of the violence. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, one of Pakistan's most ruthless militant groups, is blamed for most of the violence. |
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant outshoot of the Sipah-e-Sahaba organisation which demands Pakistan be turned into a hard-line Sunni state. | Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant outshoot of the Sipah-e-Sahaba organisation which demands Pakistan be turned into a hard-line Sunni state. |
The Lashkar has been blamed for a string of attacks. | The Lashkar has been blamed for a string of attacks. |