Suicide Bombing Near Pakistan Mosque Kills At Least 52 People

THE GUARDIAN: Blast occurs at gathering in Balochistan to celebrate birthday of prophet Muhammad

At least 52 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in a suicide attack near a mosque to mark the birthday of the prophet Muhammad in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, health officials and police said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, which comes amid a surge in the number of attacks claimed by militant groups in the west of the country before national elections scheduled for January next year.

“The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the deputy superintendent of police,” the deputy inspector general of police, Munir Ahmed, told Reuters, adding that the blast occurred near a mosque where people were gathering for a procession to mark Muhammad’s birthday, which is a public holiday.

The Pakistani Taliban, an umbrella group of various hardline Sunni Islamist groups, denied it had carried out the attack. » | Reuters and Associated Press | Friday, September 29, 2023