A suicide bomber blew himself up at an event marking the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed in Balochistan, southwestern Pakistan today, killing at least 52 people.
"A procession of hundreds of people had just come out of the Madina mosque and were heading towards Al Falah Road in Mastung district when the suicide bomber struck," local official Abdul Razzaq Sasoli said.
"He detonated his explosives near the vehicle of a deputy superintendent of police," Pakistan's Deputy Inspector General of Police Munir Ahmed said. The official is believed to have been killed.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. At least 52 people were killed and 58 injured in the incident. Local health official Abdul Rasheed said the death toll could rise as many were in serious condition.
Locals and rescue workers move a victim into an ambulance in Balochistan, Pakistan, September 29. Photo: Reuters
Images on social media showed an area strewn with the shoes of victims near the church. Some bodies were covered with bedsheets, while locals and rescue workers carried the injured to hospital.
Pakistani authorities issued an urgent appeal for people to donate blood. "This is an extremely cruel act," Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned. The country will observe three days of mourning to pay tribute to the victims.
The bombing occurred amid ongoing conflict in Pakistan's western border region.
Pakistan used to see near-daily bombings, but a major crackdown that began in 2014 helped restore order. Violence has surged again in Pakistan since the Taliban took power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.
Violence has escalated since a ceasefire between the government and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) collapsed last year. Over the years, the TTP has carried out dozens of deadly attacks on security officials, including police. The TTP denied carrying out today’s attack in Balochistan.
Balochistan, Pakistan's least populous province, is home to several militant groups fighting over territory and mineral resources in the region.
The location of the bombing in Mastung district, Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan. Graphics: Reuters
Duc Trung (According to Reuters, AFP, Al Jazeera )
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