A bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded at the gate of a famous Sufi shrine during morning prayers Monday, killing at least six people, officials said. The blast at the Baba Farid Shakar Ganj shrine was the latest in a string of attacks targeting Sufi sites. Militants often target Sufis.
The dead from Monday's blast included at least one woman, said Maher Aslam Hayat, a senior government official. At least 13 others were wounded in the explosion, he said. The bombing significantly damaged nearly a dozen shops on either side of the street outside the shrine, leaving large piles of rubble and broken wood. Blood stained the ground and the wall of one of the damaged shops.
Irshad Ali, the owner of a nearby shop that sells beads, rushed to the site after hearing the explosion at around 6:20 am local time. ``Within minutes I was here and saw a horrible scene,' Ali told The Associated Press. ``Victims were being loaded into vehicles and dust and smoke was in the air.'
The shrine itself, which is dedicated to a 12th century Sufi saint, was largely undamaged. But the blast ripped off an old wooden door at the entrance to the shrine's grounds. Just outside the gate, explosive experts examined the twisted and charred body of the motorcycle on which the bomb was placed.
The motor bike was parked near a group of people eating breakfast at a stall outside the shrine. They were among those killed and wounded in the blast, said Ali, the shopkeeper. He said a security camera used to monitor the gate was removed a few days ago without explanation.
After the attack, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, criticised the government for not doing enough to protect the Sufi population. ``Our rulers are too busy serving foreign masters and have not prioritised protecting the people and sacred places from terrorists,' said Rehman.