Islamabad: The death toll in a devastating suicide attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's Punjab province today rose to 50 after several persons succumbed to their injuries in hospital, officials said.
Two suicide bombers struck the famous Sakhi Sarwar Darbar near Dera Ghazi Khan yesterday while thousands of people were attending the annual 'urs' or festival of the 13th
century shrine.
Forty-one people were killed yesterday and the others died later, officials said. Over 100 people were injured in the attack, the latest in a series of terrorist assaults targeting Sufi shrines.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in retaliation for military operations against militants in the country's northwest area. Police officials said their investigations had revealed that the attack was planned in the restive Bajaur tribal region.
Police arrested three terrorists, including two who were described by officials as would be suicide bombers. One teenage would be suicide bomber was shot and injured by police after he lobbed a grenade.
Officials said the teenager had told them that he would try to carry out a suicide attack as soon as he recovered.
Officials said the suicide bombers arrived in the Dera Ghazi Khan region four days before the attack. They had planned to strike the shrine on Friday, when people visit in greater numbers, but were unable to do so.
The Sakhi Sarwar shrine, cordoned off following yesterday's attack, was reopened to the public today after extensive security arrangements were put in place.
Shops and markets in the area remained closed today as a mark of protest. The Taliban consider the practice of visiting and praying at Sufi shrines as "un-Islamic" and have targeted shrines across Pakistan over the past few years.
Scores have died in suicide attacks on Sufi shrines, including Data Darbar in Lahore, the shrine of Baba Farid at Pakpattan and the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi.
Two suicide bombers struck the famous Sakhi Sarwar Darbar near Dera Ghazi Khan yesterday while thousands of people were attending the annual 'urs' or festival of the 13th
century shrine.
Forty-one people were killed yesterday and the others died later, officials said. Over 100 people were injured in the attack, the latest in a series of terrorist assaults targeting Sufi shrines.
Police arrested three terrorists, including two who were described by officials as would be suicide bombers. One teenage would be suicide bomber was shot and injured by police after he lobbed a grenade.
Advertisement
Officials said the suicide bombers arrived in the Dera Ghazi Khan region four days before the attack. They had planned to strike the shrine on Friday, when people visit in greater numbers, but were unable to do so.
Advertisement
Shops and markets in the area remained closed today as a mark of protest. The Taliban consider the practice of visiting and praying at Sufi shrines as "un-Islamic" and have targeted shrines across Pakistan over the past few years.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
3 Killed, 4 Injured After Coal Mine Collapses In Pakistan US Expresses "Great Concern" Over Pakistan's Decision To Ban Imran Khan's Party "Process Has To Be Consistent": Pakistan All-Rounder Shadab Khan Opens Up About His Lean Patch Karnataka's 100% Quota Bill For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts Is Earth Orbiting Sun Or A Point In Space? Read This Fascinating Analysis Why IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold Trump Shooting Conspiracy Theories Viewed 215 Million Times On X: Report Days After Rally Scare, Man With AK-47 Arrested Near Trump's Party Event Why IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.