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Pakistan Shia mosque blast in Shikarpur kills dozens Pakistan Shia mosque blast in Shikarpur kills dozens
(34 minutes later)
At least 31 people have been killed in a powerful bomb blast at a Shia mosque in southern Pakistan, officials say. At least 40 people have been killed in a powerful bomb blast at a Shia mosque in southern Pakistan, officials say.
Police said that at least 50 people were wounded in the attack after Friday prayers in the Shikarpur district of Sindh province. Police said dozens were wounded in the attack after Friday prayers in the Shikarpur district of Sindh province, and the death toll is expected to rise.
The death toll is expected to rise as many of the wounded are in a critical condition. Sunni militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban said they carried out the attack.
Local media reports suggest that the blast could have been a suicide attack, but police are investigating.Local media reports suggest that the blast could have been a suicide attack, but police are investigating.
It is not yet clear who carried out the attack but Sunni militant groups have targeted the Shia minority in the past. There has been rising sectarian violence in Pakistan in recent years. Sunni militant groups have targeted the Shia minority in the past.
The Jundallah militant group claimed that they had carried out the attack. The group has been linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and announced allegiance to Islamic State (IS) last year.
A number of people were trapped after the roof of the mosque collapsed due to the force of the explosion, local media said.A number of people were trapped after the roof of the mosque collapsed due to the force of the explosion, local media said.
Witness Zahid Zoon told AFP news agency that hundreds of people rushed to the scene after the blast to try to dig out survivors from the rubble.Witness Zahid Zoon told AFP news agency that hundreds of people rushed to the scene after the blast to try to dig out survivors from the rubble.
"It is chaos," he said."It is chaos," he said.
Senior police official Abdul Qudoos Kalwar said that four children were among the dead, according to the Associated Press news agencySenior police official Abdul Qudoos Kalwar said that four children were among the dead, according to the Associated Press news agency
Several of the most severely wounded patients were taken to hospitals in the cities of Larkana and Sukkur.Several of the most severely wounded patients were taken to hospitals in the cities of Larkana and Sukkur.
Dr Shaukat Ali Memon, from the hospital in Shikarpur which received the first of those wounded, made an appeal on state television for blood donations.Dr Shaukat Ali Memon, from the hospital in Shikarpur which received the first of those wounded, made an appeal on state television for blood donations.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the incident and ordered an immediate inquiry.Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the incident and ordered an immediate inquiry.
The attack came as Mr Sharif visited the city of Karachi, the capital of Sindh province.The attack came as Mr Sharif visited the city of Karachi, the capital of Sindh province.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that attacks on Shia targets have been fairly common in Karachi, on the coast, but are relatively new in the interior of Sindh province, where the influence of a more tolerant Sufi Islamic tradition is more widespread.The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that attacks on Shia targets have been fairly common in Karachi, on the coast, but are relatively new in the interior of Sindh province, where the influence of a more tolerant Sufi Islamic tradition is more widespread.
Our reporter says that Friday's incident is reportedly the fifth attack of a sectarian nature in the province's interior since 2010.Our reporter says that Friday's incident is reportedly the fifth attack of a sectarian nature in the province's interior since 2010.
Are you in Shikarpur district? Have you been affected by the attack? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to talk further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.Are you in Shikarpur district? Have you been affected by the attack? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to talk further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.
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