This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/22/pakistan-taliban-suicide-bomber-rawalpindi
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan Taliban suicide bomber kills 23 in Rawalpindi | Pakistan Taliban suicide bomber kills 23 in Rawalpindi |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A Taliban suicide bomber has struck a Shia Muslim procession near Pakistan's capital, killing 23 people in the latest in a series of bombings targeting the sect during its holiest month of the year. | A Taliban suicide bomber has struck a Shia Muslim procession near Pakistan's capital, killing 23 people in the latest in a series of bombings targeting the sect during its holiest month of the year. |
| The bomber attacked the procession around midnight on Wednesday in the city of Rawalpindi, next to the capital, Islamabad, said Deeba Shahnaz, a rescue official. At least 62 people were wounded by the blast, including six police officers. Eight of the dead and wounded were children, said Shahnaz. | The bomber attacked the procession around midnight on Wednesday in the city of Rawalpindi, next to the capital, Islamabad, said Deeba Shahnaz, a rescue official. At least 62 people were wounded by the blast, including six police officers. Eight of the dead and wounded were children, said Shahnaz. |
| Police tried to stop and search the bomber as he attempted to join the procession but he ran past them and detonated his explosives, said a senior police official, Haseeb Shah. The attacker was also carrying grenades, some of which exploded. "I think the explosives combined with grenades caused the big loss," he said. | Police tried to stop and search the bomber as he attempted to join the procession but he ran past them and detonated his explosives, said a senior police official, Haseeb Shah. The attacker was also carrying grenades, some of which exploded. "I think the explosives combined with grenades caused the big loss," he said. |
| "It was like the world was ending," said one of the victims, Nasir Shah, describing the blast. He was being treated at a local hospital for wounds to his hands and legs. | "It was like the world was ending," said one of the victims, Nasir Shah, describing the blast. He was being treated at a local hospital for wounds to his hands and legs. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, the Taliban set off two bombs within minutes of each other outside a Shia mosque in the southern city of Karachi, killing at least one person and wounding several others, senior police official Javed Odho said. | Earlier on Wednesday, the Taliban set off two bombs within minutes of each other outside a Shia mosque in the southern city of Karachi, killing at least one person and wounding several others, senior police official Javed Odho said. |
| The Pakistani Taliban spokesman, Ahsanullah Ahsan, said the group was responsible for the attacks in Rawalpindi and Karachi. "We have a war of belief with Shiites," Ahsan said. "They are blasphemers. We will continue attacking them." | The Pakistani Taliban spokesman, Ahsanullah Ahsan, said the group was responsible for the attacks in Rawalpindi and Karachi. "We have a war of belief with Shiites," Ahsan said. "They are blasphemers. We will continue attacking them." |
| The Sunni-Shia schism over the true heir to Islam's Prophet Muhammad dates to the 7th century. | The Sunni-Shia schism over the true heir to Islam's Prophet Muhammad dates to the 7th century. |
| Shias are currently observing the holy month of Muharram; on Saturday, they will observe the holiest day of the month, Ashoura, which commemorates the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. | Shias are currently observing the holy month of Muharram; on Saturday, they will observe the holiest day of the month, Ashoura, which commemorates the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. |
| The country has a long history of sectarian violence carried out by extremist Sunni and Shia Muslims. Most attacks in recent years have targeted Shias, who make up a minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim country. | The country has a long history of sectarian violence carried out by extremist Sunni and Shia Muslims. Most attacks in recent years have targeted Shias, who make up a minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim country. |
| The Pakistani government increases security every Muharram to protect Shias, but attacks regularly occur, and activists have criticised the government for not doing enough to safeguard the sect. | The Pakistani government increases security every Muharram to protect Shias, but attacks regularly occur, and activists have criticised the government for not doing enough to safeguard the sect. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |