PAKISTAN: Suspected Islamist militants open fire on group of Shi'ite Muslims in a park in the southwestern Pakistan town of Quetta

Record ID: 352577

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Suspected Islamist militants open fire on group of Shi'ite Muslims in a park in the southwestern Pakistan town of Quetta
  • Date: 7th May 2011
  • Summary: QUETTA, PAKISTAN (MAY 6, 2011) (REUTERS) ATTACK SITE/PARAMILITARY CARS AND SOLDIERS GUARDING BLOOD ON GROUND, SHEET AND SPECTACLE-CASE LYING ON GROUND BLOOD/EMPTY CASES OF BULLETS LYING ON GROUND BULLET HOLE ON SPECTACLE-CASE SHEET AND BLOOD STAINED CAPS ON GROUND (MUTE) QUETTA, PAKISTAN (MAY 6, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL PARAMEDIC TYING HEAD OF BODY WITH
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan, Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA5T0DG7UTI88F29JKDVE7F9HDC
  • Story Text: Suspected Islamist militants on Friday (May 6) opened fire on a group of Pakistani Shi'ites in the town of Quetta, killing at least eight and wounding 15, police said, the first major violent incident since the death of Osama bin Laden.
    The killing of the al Qaeda leader by U.S. commandos in a Pakistani town has triggered fears of a backlash from Sunni militant groups operating in the country, many of them with ties to al Qaeda.
    The Shi'ites were in a neighbourhood park in Quetta in southwestern Pakistan when they were shot at. The attackers fled soon after.
    "Two cars came from the Brewery Road side. The bypass road goes from above; the graveyard is at a lower area. Today is Friday. Many women and children come here to offer prayers, and people come for a walk. Some were playing cricket, the other were playing football. Four, five persons got out from a car and opened fire from a kalashnikov. It went on for about 10, 15 minutes. After that they got into the car and fled towards Shalkot," said Ahmed Kozado, Secretary General of the Hazara Democratic Party.
    Sunni Muslim militants, who have carried out a wave of attacks in Pakistan over the past several years, have also targeted minority Shi'ites, which they view as heretics.
    No one has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
    Officials have blamed most of previous attacks on Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), one of the most notorious Pakistani militant groups allied to al Qaeda.
    Shi'ites roughly account for up to 20 percent of Pakistan's mainly Sunni Muslim population of 170 million.
    The attack came as Pakistan's Islamist political party has called on supporters to hold anti-U.S. protests following Friday prayers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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