PAKISTAN: An explosion near a Shi'ite Muslim procession in the central town of Khanpur kills eighteen people and wound at least thirty

Record ID: 359437

  • Title: PAKISTAN: An explosion near a Shi'ite Muslim procession in the central town of Khanpur kills eighteen people and wound at least thirty
  • Date: 16th January 2012
  • Summary: PEOPLE OUTSIDE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan, Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA4W77PGVPVZ2OR81KFVYOCNMQE
  • Story Text: A suspected home-made bomb exploded on Sunday (January 15, 2012) near a Shi'ite Muslim procession in the central Pakistani town of Khanpur, killing 18 people and wounding 30, police officials said.
    Sohail Chattha, the area's police chief, said a remote-controlled bomb planted near an electric pole was set off as the procession approached.
    One of the members of the procession said that there was a loud explosion a few yards from the procession and everyone scrambled to get away. He said that many people have died.
    The processions of Shi'ite Muslims, who make up about 20 percent of Pakistan's population, are often attacked by militant Sunni Muslim groups who consider them apostates of Islam.
    Sunday's procession was in observance of Arbain, or Chehlum, one of the main religious observances in the Shi'ite calendar.
    Blood has spilled between Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shi'ite militants for decades.
    Sectarian strife has intensified since Sunni militants deepened ties with al Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban insurgents after Pakistan joined the U.S.-led campaign against militancy after the September 11 attacks
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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