Suicide Bomber Kills 24, Wounds 100 At Shia Mosque In Heart of Pakistan

Here we go again - there is no indication of Taliban or al Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Taiba responsibility for this latest suicide bombing but the fact that it hit at a Shia mosque in the heart of the country (this was not in the NW tribal areas) leads me to believe this was al Qaeda inspired and probably carried out by Taliban. The bomber is said to have been 16 or 17 years old. Here's some of the details from GEOtv:

At least 24 persons died and 35 were injured at the Imambargah suicide bombing here.One killer blew himself up with explosives during annual Majlis Aza being held at the Imambargah located in the centre of the town at Mohala Sarpak of City police station area. The blast ripped apart the bodies of the faithful at the Imambargah, leaving a horrific scene of scattered body parts and blood all around the incident site.

Eyewitnesses said that following a Majlis, the faithful had crowded the main gate of the Imambargah, while those entering into the Imambargah were being frisked, when a youth 16/17 year old during checking blew himself up, which resulted in on the spot death of 20 persons, while the other four succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Four children were also included among the dead, they said.

Now, a second article is stating the wounded at 100 so I went with that in the headline - it's pretty normal in this size of a suicide bombing that the death toll will soar over the next day - I'm guessing we could see as many as 40 dead when it is all said and done.

This attack came in Chakwal, Pakistan and that is ONLY 100 km from Pakistan's capital - I warned weeks ago that the violence of al Qaeda and the Taliban would be spreading from the northwest areas southward. The other thing to note here is that local authorities and mosque officials WERE taking precautions and were searching those entering the mosque area - that is the spot, at the checkpoint, where this kid blew himself up. Can you imagine if this bomber would have gotten inside the mosque? We could be looking at 300 dead. Pakistan, you better put out a call for help damn soon or it's gonna be way too late for you.

24 dead, 35 injured in Chakwal Imambargah suicide blast

CHAKWAL: At least 24 persons died and 35 were injured at the Imambargah suicide bombing here.One killer blew himself up with explosives during annual Majlis Aza being held at the Imambargah located in the centre of the town at Mohala Sarpak of City police station area. The blast ripped apart the bodies of the faithful at the Imambargah, leaving a horrific scene of scattered body parts and blood all around the incident site.Eyewitnesses said that following a Majlis, the faithful had crowded the main gate of the Imambargah, while those entering into the Imambargah were being frisked, when a youth 16/17 year old during checking blew himself up, which resulted in on the spot death of 20 persons, while the other four succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Four children were also included among the dead, they said. The bodies and the injured were shifted to the Chakwal District Headquarter Hospital, while some injured were sent to Rawalpindi. Ambulances from Rawalpindi and Jhelum reached the scene of incident and stated relief operations. High police officials, DCO and heavy contingents of police also arrived following the blast. The police besieging the area have collected the evidences. Several vehicles were also damaged in the blast. Large number of people had thronged the hospital for finding out the welfare of their relatives, while the town remains drowned in an environment of mourning.