Pakistan Suicide Bombing: Death toll rises to 54, ISIL claims responsibility
Pakistan Suicide Bombing: The death toll from a suicide bombing that targeted a political gathering in northwestern Pakistan has increased to 54, with over half of the victims being children, police said Monday.
"The death toll has now reached 54," Shaukat Abbas, a top counter-terrorism official said, adding that 23 of the dead were under the age of 18. Anwar ul Haq, the district's deputy commissioner, confirmed the toll.
Funerals have been performed, and the government has promised to track down those responsible for the attack. Furthermore, the armed group ISIL (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the severe blast.
"A suicide attacker from the Islamic State [ISIL]... detonated his explosive jacket in the middle of a crowd" in Khar, according to the armed group's news arm Amaq.
A bomber detonated an explosive vest near the stage as 400 members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, a crucial government coalition partner led by hardline politician Fazlur Rehman, waited for speeches to begin.
Rehman did not attend the event, which was organized under a huge tent near a market. During political rallies in 2011 and 2014, the Pakistani leader evaded at least two known explosions.
As condolences came in from across the country, dozens of people with minor injuries had been discharged from hospitals, while the critically injured were flown by army helicopters to the provincial capital, Peshawar. According to Dr Gul Naseeb, the death toll has continued to grow as critically injured persons died in hospitals.
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- With inputs from agencies
