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31 worshippers killed in explosion in mosque in Pakistan
Quetta, July 04: An explosion today shattered a Shiite Muslim mosque in this southwestern city, killing as many as 31 worshippers and leaving another 30 injured on the Muslim Sabbath, police and witnesses said.
Quetta, July 04: An explosion today shattered a Shiite Muslim mosque in this southwestern city, killing as many as 31 worshippers and leaving another 30 injured on the Muslim Sabbath, police and witnesses said.
Shiites angered by the blast rioted in Quetta`s streets, burning cars and tires.
Gunfire could be heard as small mobs gathered near the mosque and lit fires on the streets of Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province. Paramilitary rangers were deployed to try to restore order, police inspector Shaoib suddle said.
One man was in police custody in connection with the attack, Suddle said. It wasn`t immediately clear how the suspect was linked to the explosion. Ahmad Ali, who suffered shrapnel wounds in the attack, told a news agency he saw two suicide bombers enter the mosque.
"One of them was placing something that I guess was the bomb when he was seen by a security guard at the mosque. The guard killed him and the other one blew himself up," Ali said.
Other witnesses said hand grenades were thrown into the mosque.
No one immediately took responsibility for the explosion at the mosque, where an estimated 2,000 worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers.
Bureau Report
Gunfire could be heard as small mobs gathered near the mosque and lit fires on the streets of Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province. Paramilitary rangers were deployed to try to restore order, police inspector Shaoib suddle said.
One man was in police custody in connection with the attack, Suddle said. It wasn`t immediately clear how the suspect was linked to the explosion. Ahmad Ali, who suffered shrapnel wounds in the attack, told a news agency he saw two suicide bombers enter the mosque.
"One of them was placing something that I guess was the bomb when he was seen by a security guard at the mosque. The guard killed him and the other one blew himself up," Ali said.
Other witnesses said hand grenades were thrown into the mosque.
No one immediately took responsibility for the explosion at the mosque, where an estimated 2,000 worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers.
Bureau Report