A suicide bombing in Pakistan killed at least 52 people and injured more than 50 on Friday at a religious gathering marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in the restive region bordering Afghanistan, health and police officials said.
No group claimed responsibility for the blasts, which came amid a surge in militant attacks in western Pakistan, raising the stakes for security forces ahead of national elections scheduled for January next year.
“The bomber blew himself up near the Deputy Superintendent of Police’s vehicle,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Munir Ahmed told Reuters.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast, which came amid a surge in attacks claimed by militant groups in the west of the country. AFP via Getty Images Crowds gather outside Mastung hospital, where victims of the bombing were taken to.via REUTERS
The blast struck near a mosque in Balochistan province where people had gathered for a procession marking Mohammed’s birthday, which is a public holiday, Ahmed added.
At least 58 people were injured, said Abdul Rasheed, a district health official, adding that the death toll could rise because many people were in serious condition.
Pakistan has seen a resurgence of Islamist militant attacks since last year when a ceasefire broke down between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organization of various Sunni Islamist groups.
An injured boy received treatment in the hospital following the bomb blast.AP
TTP denied it had carried out the attack on Friday.
Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti called the attack a “very despicable act”.
In July, more than 40 people were killed in a suicide bombing in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at a rally of a religious political party.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
