PAKISTAN: A roadside bomb kills at least seven people near a Shi'ite procession despite security forces high alert over fears of large-scale sectarian attacks on the minority sect across the country during their mourning period of Ashura

Record ID: 353739

  • Title: PAKISTAN: A roadside bomb kills at least seven people near a Shi'ite procession despite security forces high alert over fears of large-scale sectarian attacks on the minority sect across the country during their mourning period of Ashura
  • Date: 24th November 2012
  • Summary: PEOPLE INSIDE HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACX68KXPNLG0L8JEVWFZ2NOXLP
  • Story Text: A roadside bomb killed at least seven people near a Shi'ite procession in Pakistan on Saturday (November 24), police said, while security forces are on high alert over fears of large-scale sectarian attacks on the minority sect across the country.
    Pakistan, a nuclear-armed U.S. ally, is suspending phone coverage in many cities this weekend, an important one in the Shi'ite Muslim calendar, after a series of bomb attacks on Shi'ites triggered by mobile phones.
    Hardline Sunnis have threatened more attacks as the Shi'ite mourning month of Muharram comes to a climax. More than a dozen people have already been killed this week observing Ashura.
    Saturday's attack occurred in the city of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan's northwest, a stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked Sunni militant groups who regard Shi'ites as non-Muslims and have stepped up sectarian attacks in a bid to destabilize Pakistan.
    Four children were among those killed by a 8-10 kg bomb set off by a television remote control device because cellphones were not operational, police said. Pakistani television stations showed footage of children in hospital beds, who were among 17 wounded.
    Intelligence information indicates more attacks have been planned for the coming days in the capital city of Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta. Mobile phone service will be suspended for hours in the three cities and dozens of others over the weekend.
    In Karachi, more than 5,000 police are expected to patrol the streets during Muharram events over the next two days, with hundreds more on alert.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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