An explosion and gunfire hit a procession of Shi’ite Muslims in north-western Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least four people and injuring many others, police said.
The attack in Hangu, a town in North West Frontier province, happened as the minority Shi’ites marked Ashura, a mourning ceremony for the death of Muhammad’s grandson in the seventh century, a senior police official said.
”The situation is very bad in the town. Initial reports say some four people have died and many more are injured in the explosion and gunfire,” the official said by telephone from Hangu.
Officials said gunfire was still going on in Hangu amid general panic.
”A big explosion hit a Shi’ite procession and it was followed by gunfire. There are many casualties,” said another local police officer, Ijaz Khan. ”The army has been called out. The blast was followed by firing.”
Hangu is near Kohat, a major town in north-west Pakistan.
Police have been deployed in force across Pakistan for a number of days ahead of the Ashura ceremony, which is a favourite target of militants from the majority Sunni community.
Many Shi’ites mark the ceremony by publicly wailing and by whipping themselves with knives attached to chains.
While the two communities generally live in harmony, thousands of Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims have been killed in Pakistan in recent years in bomb blasts, suicide attacks and targeted killings. — Sapa-AFP