Dozens killed in bombing at Muslim shrine in Pakistan

An explosion claimed by militant group Islamic State ripped through a Muslim shrine in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 43 people and wounding scores, officials said.

The blast at Shah Noorani shrine occurred while hundreds of people were inside, local district commissioner Hashim Ghilzai told Reuters.

Provincial home minister Sarfaraz Bugti said 43 people were killed and Mr Ghilzai said more than 100 were wounded.

"Every day, around sunset, there is a dhamaal [ritual dance] here, and there are large numbers of people who come for this," said Nawaz Ali, the shrine's custodian.

The shrine is located in Balochistan province about 100km (60 miles) north of the port city of Karachi, to where rescue official Hakeem Nasi told Geo TV dozens of wounded were being moved.

The government dispatched 25 ambulances from the nearby town of Hub to the shrine, said Akbar Harifal, provincial home secretary for Balochistan. The army was called in to assist with rescue operations, given the remoteness of the site, Mr Bugti said.

It was not clear if the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber or a planted device, according to Mr Bugti.

The province has seen some of the worst militant attacks this year in Pakistan.

Islamic State said in a statement via its Amaq news agency that its fighters had carried out Saturday’s bombing.

The jihadist group also claimed responsibility for the last major attack in the province, at a police academy last month, that killed about 60 people.

Muslim shrines have often been targeted by militant groups, many of whom adhere to a strict interpretation of Islam that regards veneration of saints at shrines such as Shah Noorani as heresy.

Reuters