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Pakistan mosque attack 'kills 30' | Pakistan mosque attack 'kills 30' |
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At least 32 people have been killed and dozens injured in a coordinated attack at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, military officials say. | At least 32 people have been killed and dozens injured in a coordinated attack at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, military officials say. |
Reports suggest there were at least two suicide attacks during Friday prayers followed by a series of explosions. | Reports suggest there were at least two suicide attacks during Friday prayers followed by a series of explosions. |
Witnesses said three attackers sprayed gunfire around the mosque. | Witnesses said three attackers sprayed gunfire around the mosque. |
The Pakistani security forces have been targeted in a series of recent attacks. Nineteen people were killed in an army base attack in Rawalpindi in October. | The Pakistani security forces have been targeted in a series of recent attacks. Nineteen people were killed in an army base attack in Rawalpindi in October. |
Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said the latest attack had been coordinated. | Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said the latest attack had been coordinated. |
"There was certainly more than one attacker, so there is a possibility that some of them may still be hiding in the vicinity," he told reporters. | "There was certainly more than one attacker, so there is a possibility that some of them may still be hiding in the vicinity," he told reporters. |
Most of the dead are reported to have been serving or retired military officials. | Most of the dead are reported to have been serving or retired military officials. |
The BBC's Orla Guerin, in Rawalpindi, says there were helicopters are hovering over the city, suggesting security forces were looking for attackers on the run. | The BBC's Orla Guerin, in Rawalpindi, says there were helicopters are hovering over the city, suggesting security forces were looking for attackers on the run. |
Powered by Daylife --> | Powered by Daylife --> |
Senior police official Aslam Tarin told Reuters news agency: "Initial information indicates that they were two to three attackers who entered the mosque by scaling a wall." | Senior police official Aslam Tarin told Reuters news agency: "Initial information indicates that they were two to three attackers who entered the mosque by scaling a wall." |
Rawalpindi's police chief, Rao Iqbal, said the attacker first opened fire and then blew themselves up." | |
The area around the mosque has been heavily cordoned off by police. | The area around the mosque has been heavily cordoned off by police. |
Friday prayers | Friday prayers |
Interior Minister Rehman Malik says two suicide bombers blew themselves up one after the other inside the mosque, causing the roof of the building to collapse. | Interior Minister Rehman Malik says two suicide bombers blew themselves up one after the other inside the mosque, causing the roof of the building to collapse. |
"They are taking revenge for the Pakistan army's successful operations in the Swat and Waziristan region," Mr Malik told the ARY television channel. | "They are taking revenge for the Pakistan army's successful operations in the Swat and Waziristan region," Mr Malik told the ARY television channel. |
Pakistan's Taliban dilemma Who are the Taliban? | Pakistan's Taliban dilemma Who are the Taliban? |
One witness, Nasir Ali Sheikh, told the BBC he saw three attackers, one of whom threw hand grenades into the mosque. | One witness, Nasir Ali Sheikh, told the BBC he saw three attackers, one of whom threw hand grenades into the mosque. |
He said two grenades landed in the men's section of the mosque and one in the women's. | He said two grenades landed in the men's section of the mosque and one in the women's. |
Other attackers were firing randomly in the mosque, said Nasir Ali Sheikh, adding that visitors had had to go through tight security, including metal detectors, to get inside the building. | Other attackers were firing randomly in the mosque, said Nasir Ali Sheikh, adding that visitors had had to go through tight security, including metal detectors, to get inside the building. |
The incident took place at the Parade Lane mosque, during Friday prayers. | The incident took place at the Parade Lane mosque, during Friday prayers. |
"As soon as we finished prayers, I heard a blast and firing," witness Bakhtawar Hussain told Reuters. | "As soon as we finished prayers, I heard a blast and firing," witness Bakhtawar Hussain told Reuters. |
He said he saw wounded people lying in the courtyard of the mosque. | He said he saw wounded people lying in the courtyard of the mosque. |
The mosque is a short distance from the army headquarters, in an area housing several offices of the defence establishment and the intelligence agencies. | The mosque is a short distance from the army headquarters, in an area housing several offices of the defence establishment and the intelligence agencies. |
There has been a pattern of militant groups trying to attack security targets inside Pakistan recently, as the army pursues an offensive against militants in South Waziristan. | There has been a pattern of militant groups trying to attack security targets inside Pakistan recently, as the army pursues an offensive against militants in South Waziristan. |
Once again, the militants have shown they can launch attacks on the military even in protected locations, says our correspondent. | Once again, the militants have shown they can launch attacks on the military even in protected locations, says our correspondent. |
While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest incident, the Pakistani Taliban have carried out many recent attacks. | While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest incident, the Pakistani Taliban have carried out many recent attacks. |
Are you in the Rawalpindi? Do you know where the incident has happened? How are you affected by this story? | Are you in the Rawalpindi? Do you know where the incident has happened? How are you affected by this story? |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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