40 killed in twin suicide blasts in northwest Pakistan

July 27, 2013 02:52

At least 40 people were killed when twin suicide bombings ripped through a town in northwest Pakistan's restive tribal belt on Friday in a sudden surge in violence against the minority Shia community.

State-run Radio Pakistan said that at least 40 people were killed and over 100 injured in the bombings which occurred in a span of a few minutes in the central market of Parachinar town in Kurram Agency, one of seven tribal districts where Taliban militants are fighting government forces.

An intelligence official said that both attackers used explosive-rigged motorbikes in the attacks to cause maximum damage.

Abu Baseer, a purported spokesman of Ansarul Mujahideen militant group, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a message to the media.

"Shias are enemies of Islam and we will continue to attack them," Baseer said.

The first explosion went off in a busy market and it was was followed by another on School Road in Parachinar. Both blasts occurred near Shia mosques, witnesses said.

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