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| Pakistan mosque attack 'kills 40' | Pakistan mosque attack 'kills 40' |
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| At least 40 people have been killed and more than 80 injured in a co-ordinated attack at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, officials say. | At least 40 people have been killed and more than 80 injured in a co-ordinated attack at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, officials say. |
| Officials said at least four attackers started shooting at worshippers during Friday prayers attended by many staff from a nearby military headquarters. | Officials said at least four attackers started shooting at worshippers during Friday prayers attended by many staff from a nearby military headquarters. |
| Security forces fought back in an hour-long gun battle, before three attackers blew themselves up, reports say. | Security forces fought back in an hour-long gun battle, before three attackers blew themselves up, reports say. |
| The Pakistani security forces have been targeted in a series of recent attacks. | The Pakistani security forces have been targeted in a series of recent attacks. |
| Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said the latest attack had been co-ordinated, and some gunmen could still be hiding in the area. | Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said the latest attack had been co-ordinated, and some gunmen could still be hiding in the area. |
| ANALYSIS Orla Guerin, BBC News, Rawalpindi | ANALYSIS Orla Guerin, BBC News, Rawalpindi |
| This attack happened inside a so-called red zone, supposed to be a very secure location. It is close to military facilities and in an area where many senior army officers live. They were known to attend this mosque for prayers. | This attack happened inside a so-called red zone, supposed to be a very secure location. It is close to military facilities and in an area where many senior army officers live. They were known to attend this mosque for prayers. |
| Once again, the militants are taking this fight to the army and showing the can strike inside a secure protected location. | Once again, the militants are taking this fight to the army and showing the can strike inside a secure protected location. |
| Certainly, this is part of a pattern of targeting military and security sites. It something not only restricted to Rawalpindi but happening in other Pakistanicities as well. | Certainly, this is part of a pattern of targeting military and security sites. It something not only restricted to Rawalpindi but happening in other Pakistanicities as well. |
| 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. |
| Senior police official Aslam Tarin told Reuters news agency the attackers could have entered the mosque by scaling a wall. | Senior police official Aslam Tarin told Reuters news agency the attackers could have entered the mosque by scaling a wall. |
| Rawalpindi's police chief, Rao Iqbal, said the attackers "first opened fire and then blew themselves up." | Rawalpindi's police chief, Rao Iqbal, said the attackers "first opened fire and then blew themselves up." |
| The area around the mosque has been cordoned off by police. | The area around the mosque has been cordoned off by police. |
| The BBC's Orla Guerin, in Rawalpindi, said helicopters had been overhead, suggesting security forces had been looking for attackers on the run. | The BBC's Orla Guerin, in Rawalpindi, said helicopters had been overhead, suggesting security forces had been looking for attackers on the run. |
| Friday prayers | Friday prayers |
| Interior Minister Rehman Malik said explosions from at least one suicide bomber caused the roof of the building to collapse. | Interior Minister Rehman Malik said explosions from at least one suicide bomber caused 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. |
| Powered by Daylife -- | Powered by Daylife -- |
| 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. |
| RECENT MILITANT ATTACKS 24 Sept - Seven pro-government tribal elders killed by militants in town of Janikhel, north-western Pakistan26 Sept - At least 16 people killed in two suicide car bombs, in Peshawar and Bannu5 Oct - Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad killing five9 Oct - At least 50 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Peshawar10 Oct - Six soldiers die in attack by militants on an army base in Rawalpindi4 Dec - At least 40 worshippers die in a Rawalpindi mosque when attackers strike Pakistan's Taliban dilemma Who are the Taliban? | RECENT MILITANT ATTACKS 24 Sept - Seven pro-government tribal elders killed by militants in town of Janikhel, north-western Pakistan26 Sept - At least 16 people killed in two suicide car bombs, in Peshawar and Bannu5 Oct - Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad killing five9 Oct - At least 50 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Peshawar10 Oct - Six soldiers die in attack by militants on an army base in Rawalpindi4 Dec - At least 40 worshippers die in a Rawalpindi mosque when attackers strike Pakistan's Taliban dilemma Who are the Taliban? |
| Other attackers were firing randomly in the Parade Lane 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 Parade Lane mosque, said Nasir Ali Sheikh, adding that visitors had had to go through tight security, including metal detectors, to get inside the building. |
| "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. |
| Nineteen people were killed in an army base attack in Rawalpindi in October. | Nineteen people were killed in an army base attack in Rawalpindi in October. |
| 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. |
| No group has claimed to have carried out the attack, but the Pakistani Taliban have carried out many recent attacks. | No group has claimed to have carried out the attack, but 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? |
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