Suicide bomber kills 25 in Chakwal

A suicide bomber attacked a crowded Imamabargah in Chakwal on Sunday, killing 25 people and wounding dozens more in the latest carnage, officials said. Fedayeen al-Islam, a little-known group believed linked to the Taliban, claimed responsibility through a spokesman.
Sundays suicide bomber set off his explosives at the entrance to a Imambargah in Chakwal city in Punjab province during a religious congregation, said Nadim Hasan Asif, a top security official in Punjab. He said the blast killed 25 people and injured more than 160. ``The suspected man was stopped at the entrance and pushed himself in and exploded, Asif said. Another police officer, Nasir Khan Durrani, said the attack could have been much worse. ``Had he succeeded in exploding inside it could have caused a much bigger loss because there were hundreds of people inside, Durrani said.
Chaudhry Nasrullah, the top health official in Chakwal, confirmed that 25 people were killed and that more than 160 were injured, a dozen of them critically. He appealed to the government to send helicopters to evacuate the most seriously wounded. Farid Ali, who left the Imambargah just before the attack occurred, said he felt the blast on his back and looked back and saw smoke and dust. ``I saw several people lying dead, he told private TV. ``There was blood everywhere.
Local television footage showed pools of blood on the road in front of the mosque. Torn clothes and a pair of shoes also littered the ground. Police investigators were shown collecting evidence, not far from a car and four motorcycles that were damaged by the blast.
A policeman with both his legs bandaged and another wounded man whose shirt was stained with blood were shown on hospital beds crying in pain. A woman standing in the emergency ward of the hospital wailed, ``Oh my God. Oh my God.
A man identified as Umar Farooq who says he speaks for the shadowy militant organisation Fedayeen al-Islam told The Associated Press via telephone Sunday that the group had staged the attack on the Imambargah as part of a ``campaign against infidels. He also warned the US to stop its drone-fired missile strikes on militant targets in north-west.
Little is known of the group, but it is believed linked to the Taliban. In the past it has claimed responsibility for other attacks, including the bombing of Marriott Hotel.