Bomber targets imambargah in Sargodha

A suicide bomber struck outside an imambargah in Sargodha city, killing himself and injuring more than a dozen people, police sources said.

The bomber detonated the explosives outside Imambargah Haideriya in Block 19 where Maghribain prayers were in progress, the sources said.

According to eyewitnesses, a suicide bomber got off from a car and tried to enter the imambargah. However, when stopped for a body search by the security guard on duty, he detonated the explosives strapped to his body.

Some reports suggested that four people were killed in the bombing. However, police confirmed that except for the bomber no one had died in the incident. At least 18 people were wounded in the attack and were shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

Security forces cordoned off the area, clearing the way for investigators to collect vital forensic evidence. Police said that they had found the head of the bomber at the site.

Zulfiqar Shah, the district coordination officer (DCO) of Sargodha, confirmed that it was a suicide attack. He added that the security guard’s act of valour averted a tragedy, as hundreds of people were present in the imambargah at the time.

Minutes after the bombing, a large number of people rushed to the site and lodged a strong protest against the attack.

Published in the Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2010.