On September 29, a significant number of individuals residing in the Mastung District in southwestern Pakistan departed from their residences to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Regrettably, what should have been a joyous celebration took a tragic turn when terrorists carried out an attack.
Amidst the festivities, a suicide bomber infiltrated the crowd and triggered an explosive device. This unfortunate incident occurred during the Mawlid an-Nabi celebration, which typically sees around 500 people congregating to observe the occasion. It is customary for Muslims to organize events during this time, often involving the distribution of complimentary meals as a part of the commemoration.
The incident occurred in close proximity to a mosque. Visual documentation of the vicinity depicted lifeless individuals covered with bed linens, and scattered garments were also visible. Initial reports indicated that 52 individuals lost their lives as a result of the attack, with approximately 70 sustaining injuries. Nevertheless, by the following morning, the death toll had risen to 54, and as of Monday, October 1, it had reached 60, while the count of injured individuals was revised to 50.
Most of the deceased individuals were laid to rest in local cemeteries, although some were transported to their hometowns nearby. Authorities are currently conducting DNA examinations on the body fragments recovered from the scene to ascertain whether they pertain to victims or the assailants.
In accordance with NPR, the Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, described the bombing as a vile and abhorrent act. He conveyed his sorrow for the individuals who lost their lives. As of the current moment, no party has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A separate explosion occurred at a mosque situated within the precincts of a police station in the Hangu District. This incident resulted in the demise of five individuals and inflicted injuries upon seven others, leading to the collapse of the building. Around 40 individuals were present at the mosque during the explosion, with a majority of them being law enforcement officers.
According to The Associated Press, two suicide bombers approached the police station, and alert security personnel were able to thwart one of them. Regrettably, the second attacker reached the location and detonated their explosive device.
Pakistan has a history of being a haven for terrorist activities. Following the events of September 11, 2001, in the United States, Osama bin Laden, the architect of those attacks, took refuge in Abbottabad for at least part of the time until his demise at the hands of US Navy SEALs in 2011.
