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2 dead, 34 injured in road crashes in Philippines over weekend
MANILA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Two people died and 34 others were hurt in two separate road crashes in the Philippines over the weekend, local authorities said Sunday. A municipal disaster prevention official said a female bus collector was killed after a passenger bus rammed into a trailer truck parked on the roadside in a town in Davao de Oro province in the southern Philippines around 4 a.m. local time on Sunda.....»»
1 dead, 2 hurt in truck smashup
A trailer truck driver was killed while two others were injured in a collision with a dump truck along Mel Lopez Boulevard in Tondo, Manila on Friday morning......»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 18
ISLAMABAD -- At least three people were killed and around 12 others severely injured on Monday in a gas cylinder blast in a building in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, the rescue service said. Salman Naseer, an official of the rescue organization Edhi Foundation, told Xinhua that the accident took place in Machar Colony area when new gas cylinders were being shifted to a shop of cylinders beneath a dou.....»»
DCPO activates Oplan Defense for Davao City security after MSU-Marawi blast
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has activated Oplan Defense in response to the powerful explosion that occurred during a Catholic Mass at Mindanao State University-Marawi's gym on December 2, 2023. Under the directive of DCPO Director Police Colonel Alberto Lupaz, all 19 police stations are leading the Oplan Defense, which involves conducting restrictive vehicle checks and border controls. The DCPO has also collaborated with other government and security agencies, particularly the Task Force Davao (TFD), to maintain peace and order in the city. DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon emphasized the coordination with other agencies to ensure peace and order throughout the city, especially during the Christmas Fiesta. The city remains on high alert, with personnel deployed in major Catholic churches and mosques and a one-entrance-and-exit policy implemented in these worship places. Tuazon highlighted the strengthening of the Davao defense system through checkpoints and police visibility in churches. In a press briefing, Mark Anthony Tito, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division, affirmed continuous security monitoring in their jurisdiction following the bombing at MSU-Marawi. Oplan Defense is DCPO’s campaign against criminality and terrorism, aiming to preemptively secure residents and visitors of the area. The Police Provincial Office of Lanao del Sur (PPO-Lanao del Sur) has formed a Special Investigation Task Group-MSU Marawi (SITG-MSU Marawi) to expedite the investigation process, as two persons of interest linked to the DI-Maute group, a radical Islamic terrorist connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), have been identified. The blast resulted in four deaths and over 50 injuries, including students, academic professionals, and members of the Catholic ministries. The city urges the public not to believe in fake news about the Marawi bombing suspect. In summary, DCPO has activated Oplan Defense to secure Davao City in response to the MSU-Marawi blast, collaborating with other agencies to maintain peace and order while intensifying security measures and investigation efforts......»»
6 villagers hurt in Cotabato town grenade explosion
Six Moro villagers were hurt in a grenade blast that ripped through a residential area at dusk Saturday in Pikit town in Cotabato......»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Nov. 7
KABUL -- Seven people were killed and 20 others injured as a blast rocked the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Tuesday, Kabul's police spokesman Khalid Zadran said. The blast ripped through a mini-bus on Tuesday evening, claiming the lives of seven civilians and injuring 20 others, Zadran said, adding that all the victims were civilians. (Afghanistan-Blast) - - - - MANILA -- Th.....»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Nov. 7
KABUL -- Seven people were killed and 20 others injured as a blast rocked the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Tuesday, Kabul's police spokesman Khalid Zadran said. The blast ripped through a mini-bus on Tuesday evening, claiming the lives of seven civilians and injuring 20 others, Zadran said, adding that all the victims were civilians. (Afghanistan-Blast) - - - - MANILA -- Th.....»»
IS parcel bomb kills 4
The Islamic State jihadist group claimed on its Telegram channel Friday that it was behind a blast at a sports club that killed four people in the Afghan capital the night before. The Sunni Muslim extremist group said it had used a parcel bomb that “IS fighters placed in a room where Shiites gather.” The explosion occurred Thursday evening at a commercial center in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul, an enclave of the historically oppressed Shiite Hazara community, according to police. Police were still investigating the cause of the explosion, Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said on Friday afternoon in a message to reporters. He added that seven people were injured in the blast, revising the initial toll of two dead and nine injured. Taliban authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the IS claim. The explosion ripped through a sports club several floors up in the commercial centre, blowing out all the sides of the space and shattering windows and causing damage throughout the block, Agence France-Presse journalists saw on Friday. An instructor at the club, which holds training in combat sports, told AFP the blast happened at the end of a busy boxing session that usually hosted some thirty people. “The explosion was extraordinarily strong. The walls fell, the metal doors, glass and windows were broken,” 26-year-old Sultan Ali Amiri, who was not in the club when the blast occurred, said. “There has been a lot of damage, punching bags and almost everything is destroyed.” AFP journalists saw several heavy bags used for combat sport training on the floor of the club, others still hanging and pocked with fragments from the blast. Afghanistan’s Hazaras have regularly faced attacks in the majority Sunni Muslim country. They have been persecuted for decades, targeted by the Taliban during their insurgency against the former United States-backed government as well as by IS. The IS group, which considers Shiites heretics, has carried out several deadly attacks in the same area in recent years targeting schools, mosques and gyms. WITH AFP The post IS parcel bomb kills 4 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel says tank fire ‘accidentally’ hit Egyptian post
The Israeli military said Sunday that one of its tanks had "accidentally fired and hit an Egyptian post" near the border with Gaza as the army bombards the Palestinian enclave. The Egyptian military said the blast had caused "minor injuries" but did not give details. "The IDF (Israeli military) expresses sorrow regarding the incident" near the Kerem Shalom area, an army statement said. "The incident is being investigated and the details are under review," the statement added. The Egyptian army said Israel had "immediately expressed its regret over the unintentional incident and an investigation is underway". Egyptian media said the Israeli strike would not disrupt the passage of aid to Gaza, citing witnesses. Since Saturday, 37 trucks carrying vital supplies have crossed to Gaza through its Rafah border post with Egypt, which lies around three kilometers (two miles) from Israel. Crossings between Gaza and Israel have been shut since the outbreak of war on 7 October. The United Nations has estimated about 100 trucks per day are needed to meet the needs of Gaza, where more than 4,650 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to the Hamas government. The bombardment follows attacks by Hamas militants which killed more than 1,400 people in Israel. The post Israel says tank fire ‘accidentally’ hit Egyptian post appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suspect in NAIA blast arrested
Police apprehended yesterday the suspect in the Molotov explosion at the parking area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1......»»
More than 50 killed, dozens wounded in Pakistan blasts
More than 50 people were killed and dozens more wounded in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Friday by a suicide bomber targeting a procession marking the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, officials said. A second suicide attack by two men at a mosque hundreds of kilometers north in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province led to a roof collapse that killed four people, officials said. While the celebration of the Prophet's birthday is accepted by the majority of Islamic sects in Pakistan and elsewhere in the Muslim world, certain denominations view it as an unwarranted innovation. In southwestern Balochistan, officials said a suicide bomber detonated a device as rallies from neighborhood mosques converged on a meeting point in Mastung, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the provincial capital, Quetta. "My feet trembled and I was thrown to the ground," said 49-year-old Hazoor Bakhsh. "As the dust settled, I saw people scattered in all directions, some screaming while others called out for help." Local hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of wounded, and provincial authorities used social media platforms to appeal for blood donors. The death toll kept climbing throughout the day. "I can confirm that the death toll has increased to 52, with over 70 individuals injured," Munir Ahmed Shaikh, the deputy inspector-general of Balochistan's police force, told AFP. Every year, mosques and government buildings are elaborately illuminated with strings of lights, and people march in processions to mark the Prophet's birthday. On the same occasion in April 2006, a suicide bomber killed at least 50 people in the port city of Karachi after detonating a device at a gathering of Sunni Muslims. Surge in violence Friday's blast comes as Pakistan prepares for an election due in January next year -- while grappling with a political crisis, a crippled economy, and a surge in militant violence inspired by the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021. Jan Achakzai, Balochistan's minister for information, announced a three-day mourning period. Balochistan, Pakistan's least populous province, is also home to several militant groups fighting for independence or a greater share of the region's mineral resources. Hundreds of kilometres north in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, four people were killed after the roof of a mosque collapsed following a suicide attack. "Two militants, armed with automatic firearms, hand grenades, and suicide vests attempted to breach the mosque's security," senior district police officer Nisar Ahmad told AFP. "They were intercepted at the main entrance leading to an exchange of gunfire. One of them detonated his vest, while the other managed to enter the mosque's hall through a window." Ahmad said most of those inside had managed to escape as the shooting started, but the detonation of the second bomber's vest brought the roof down, killing four people. In July, more than 40 people were killed in a suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a religious political party's gathering. Pakistan's Taliban have stepped up attacks against military and government targets since the return to power of the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan. But the group said it had nothing to do with the Balochistan attack. The regional chapter of the Islamic State group, known as Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), has also carried out attacks in the area in the past. "The attack on innocent people who came to participate in the procession... is a very heinous act," the interior ministry said in a statement. Separately, Pakistan's military said Friday four soldiers had been killed as they fought an attempt by TTP militants to infiltrate Balochistan from Afghanistan. The post More than 50 killed, dozens wounded in Pakistan blasts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Illegal fishermen netted
Limay, Bataan — Authorities reported that at least eight fishermen were arrested after they were caught blast-fishing off the waters of the town here recently. The Limay Municipal Police Station, Limay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council and Bantay Dagat conducted a joint operation at the waters of Limay after receiving information that there was dynamite fishing in the area. The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects on board various fishing vessels identified as Maceda, Bernaldo, Tapion, and two individuals surnamed Villanueva on board an unmarked fishing boat. Additionally, the FB Pam-Dave was found to have on board Punay and two more individuals with the surname Villanueva. The suspects were caught red-handed collecting Alubaybay fishes, which is indicative of dynamite fishing, a fact later confirmed by a fish examiner from the Provincial Agriculturist of Bataan. During the operation, authorities confiscated significant evidence, including approximately 200 grams of Alubaybay fishes valued at P9,800, three fish finders with a total value of P45,000, six sets of fine fish nets valued at P42,000, and three fishing boats equipped with motors valued at P150,000. The post Illegal fishermen netted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Osiris returning with asteroid sample
WASHINGTON (AFP) — NASA’s first mission to retrieve an asteroid sample and return it to US soil is expected to reach a perilous finale on Sunday with a descent into the Utah desert. Scientists hope the material — possibly the most ever retrieved by such a mission — will provide humanity with a better understanding on the formation of our solar system and how Earth became habitable. The US space probe OSIRIS-REx, launched in 2016, scooped up the sample from an asteroid called Bennu almost three years ago. Touchdown is scheduled for Sunday at around 9:00 am local time (1500 GMT), at a military testing site in the western state. Some four hours earlier, at about 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometers) away from Earth, the Osiris-Rex probe will release the capsule containing the sample. The final descent lasts 13 minutes: The capsule enters the atmosphere at a speed of around 27,000 miles (43,000 kilometers) per hour and reaches a maximum temperature of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius), NASA said. If all goes well, two successive parachutes will bring the capsule to a soft landing on the desert floor, where it will be retrieved by prepositioned staff. Hitting the target area of 250 square miles is like “throwing a dart across the length of a basketball court and hitting the bullseye,” Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA, told a press conference last month. The night before landing, controllers will have a final opportunity to abort if conditions are not correct. If so, the probe would then circle the Sun before its next attempt — in 2025. “Sample return missions are hard. There’s a number of things that can go wrong,” said Sandra Freund, Lockheed Martin’s OSIRIS-REx program manager. Teams have meticulously prepared for the capsule’s return — even a “hard landing scenario” according to Freund — in order to preserve the asteroid material in its pristine form. A final dress rehearsal took place in August, with a replica capsule dropped from a helicopter. Once the capsule is on the ground, a team will check its condition before placing it in a net, which will be lifted by helicopter and taken to a temporary “clean room.” The next day, the sample will be flown to a highly specialized laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Scientists will open the capsule and separate pieces of the rock and dust over a period of days. Some of the sample will be for studies now, with the rest stored away for future generations equipped with better technology — a practice first started during the Apollo missions to the Moon. NASA is expected to unveil its first results during a press conference on 11 October. Obtaining the sample involved a high-risk operation in October 2020: The probe came into contact with the asteroid for a few seconds, and a blast of compressed nitrogen was emitted to raise the dust sample which was then captured. Bennu had surprised scientists during sample collection: During the few seconds of contact with the surface, the probe’s arm had sunk into the soil, revealing a much lower density than expected. However it allowed NASA to take far more than the initial target of 60 grams — the agency thinks the sample could be up to some 250 grams of material. That mass would be the “largest from beyond the orbit of the moon,” NASA program executive Melissa Morris said. The post Osiris returning with asteroid sample appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hidden ocean the source of CO2 on Jupiter moon: research
Carbon dioxide detected on Jupiter's moon Europa comes from the vast ocean beneath its icy shell, research using James Webb Space Telescope data indicated on Thursday, potentially bolstering hopes the hidden water could harbor life. Scientists are confident there is a huge ocean of saltwater kilometers below Europa's ice-covered surface, making the moon a prime candidate for hosting extra-terrestrial life in our Solar System. But determining whether this concealed ocean has the right chemical elements to support life has been difficult. Carbon dioxide -- one of the key building blocks of life -- has been detected on Europa's surface, but whether it rose up from the ocean below remained an open question. Aiming to find an answer, two US-led teams of researchers used data from the Webb telescope's near-infrared spectrometer to map CO2 on the surface of Europa, publishing their results in separate studies in the journal Science. The most CO2 was in a 1,800 kilometer-wide (1,120 mile) area called Tara Regio, where there is a lot of "chaos terrain" with jagged ridges and cracks. Exactly what creates chaos terrain is not well understood, but one theory is that warm water from the ocean rises up to melt the surface ice, which then re-freezes over time into new uneven crags. The first study used the Webb data to look at whether the CO2 could have come from somewhere other than the ocean below -- hitching a ride on a meteorite, for example. Samantha Trumbo, a planetary scientist at Cornell University and the study's lead author, told AFP they concluded that the carbon was "ultimately derived from the interior, likely the internal ocean". But the researchers could not rule out that the carbon came up from the planet's interior as rock-like carbonate minerals, which irradiation could then have broken apart to become CO2. 'Very exciting' Table salt has also been detected in Tara Regio -- making the area significantly more yellow than the rest of Europa's scarred white plains -- and scientists think it may also have come up from the ocean. "So now we've got salt, we've got CO2: we're starting to learn a little bit more what that internal chemistry might look like," Trumbo said. Looking at the same Webb data, the second study also indicated that "carbon is sourced from within Europa". The NASA-led researchers had also hoped to find plumes of water or volatile gases shooting out of the moon's surface, but failed to spot any. Two major space missions plan to get a closer look at Europa and its mysterious ocean. The European Space Agency's Jupiter moon probe Juice launched in April, while NASA's Europa Clipper mission is scheduled to blast off in October 2024. Juice project scientist Olivier Witasse welcomed the two new studies, saying they were "very exciting". When Juice flies past Europa twice in 2032, it will collect "a wealth of new information," including about surface chemistry, he told AFP. Juice will also look at two of Jupiter's other moons -- Ganymede and Callisto -- where carbon has been detected. Witasse emphasised that the goal of the Juice mission, like the Europa Clipper, is to find out whether these icy moons have the right conditions to support life -- they will not be able to confirm if aliens exist. And even if some future mission does discover life, anything able to live in such extreme conditions under more than 10 kilometres of ice is expected to be tiny, such as primitive microbes. The post Hidden ocean the source of CO2 on Jupiter moon: research appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bomb blast kills 11 Pakistan laborers
Eleven laborers were killed when a bomb attached to their vehicle exploded in northwestern Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan Saturday evening, a local government official said Sunday. Rehman Gul Khattak, senior government official for North Waziristan, said in a statement that the victims were working at an under construction post for the Pakistan army. In a post on X, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar condemned the senseless violence that Amir Muhammad Khan, a senior police official in the area, called a terrorist attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing but militants are suspected. Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban surged back to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan’s home-grown Taliban group, Tehreek's e-Taliban Pakistan, has waged a growing campaign against security officials, including police officers. The militant assaults have been focused in regions abutting Afghanistan, and Islamabad alleges some are being planned on Afghan soil — a charge Kabul denies. WITH AFP The post Bomb blast kills 11 Pakistan laborers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz unit spends P250M for Davao line
DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur — Davao Light and Power Company, a unit of AboitizPower Corp., earmarked around P200 million to P250 million this year to bankroll the underground cabling system that it currently undertakes as strictly mandated by the local government. In a recent interview, Davao Light president and COO Rodger Velasco disclosed that the company made sure to secure enough funding from the company’s capital outlay of about P2.4 billion this year to sustain its project implementation. “We usually spend around P1.5 to P1.6 billion pre-pandemic but last year, we spent P2 billion because we are ramping up, we are on full blast. There are challenges in capacity so we are also upgrading,” Velasco told reporters. “This 2024, our capital expenditure will remain elevated, still about P2.4 billion, same as this year,” he added. Despite facing headwinds such as right-of-way issues and water line and drainage obstructions, among others, Velasco said that Davao Light’s underground cabling is making significant headway. At the current 25 percent completion rate, the company targets to company the project by the end of the decade or by 2030. The project abides by the City Ordinance No. 0152-17 Series of 2017, or “An Ordinance Requiring All Telecommunication Companies, Davao Light and Power Company, and all other Persons to Comply with the Underground Cabling Plan of the City of Davao.” The areas include C.M. Recto; San Pedro; R. Magsaysay Avenue; C. Bangoy Sr., Bonifacio, and Pelayo; and E. Quirino Streets — also known as the Kadayawan Route. Underground line facilities usually involve transformers installed on the ground through pad-mounting. In C.M. Recto, a platform-type transformer was installed. Meaning, the pad-mounted transformers were elevated and installed on alley-type structures, also known as platform-type transformer installation. Cabling innovation A different approach was implemented in San Pedro Street. This time, the transformers are installed on poles along adjacent streets that are not part of underground cabling areas. Currently, the first part of the underground cabling project in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, which focuses on electrical works, is ongoing. While the project is industry-leading, Velasco noted that Davao Light has yet to commit to pursuing underground cabling across its entire franchise area as it would require high capital that may imminently prompt higher rates for customers. The post Aboitiz unit spends P250M for Davao line appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
11 laborers killed in bomb attack in Pakistan
Eleven laborers were killed in a bomb blast in northwestern Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, a local government official said Sunday. The device exploded after being attached to the vehicle they were traveling in on Saturday evening, Rehman Gul Khattak, a senior government official for North Waziristan, said in a statement. "The laborers were working at an under-construction post for the Pakistan army," Khattack said. Amir Muhammad Khan, a senior police official in the area, confirmed the bomb blast and the number of casualties to AFP. “Heartbreaking to know about the terrorist attack in North Waziristan which claimed the lives of 11 innocent laborers. Strongly condemn this senseless act of violence and stand in solidarity with the families affected," caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post 11 laborers killed in bomb attack in Pakistan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero seeks P100-M budget allocation for Ayungin buildup
Senator Francis Escudero said he will propose the allocation of at least P100 million in the 2024 national budget to fund the construction of permanent structures over the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea "to strengthen the country's presence in the contested maritime territory.” "I will propose the allocation of a minimum of P100 million to fund the construction of a pier and lodging structures for our soldiers assigned in the area, and for our fishermen who might seek temporary refuge in times of bad weather," Escudero said. The senator said the structures could serve as permanent lodging for military personnel stationed at the old BRP Sierra Madre, a warship intentionally grounded in the shoal in 1999 as a Philippine military outpost. He added that the Ayungin facilities could be used as temporary shelter for foreign fishermen “who will be caught in bad weather” in the waters. “It will welcome fishermen in distress with warm accommodations and not with a blast of the water cannon. It is there to help and not to harass,” he added. The BRP Sierra Madre is currently the center of the latest tensions due to the blocking and water canon firing of China’s vessels to the Philippine ships. Escudero pressed the need to hasten the building of the structures in the Ayungin Shoal saying "Sierra Madre's greatest enemy is nature, and it will soon be lost to the sea. Kinakalawang na (Being rusted). Our soldiers should not die from tetanus.” "It's being beached there was supposed to be an ad hoc measure. After almost one-quarter it is time for a permanent solution," he said, suggesting that parts of the structure can be prefabricated on land and be brought there “so there will be no China style of fortification in which the environment is permanently damaged.” Meanwhile, Escudero noted that his proposal “is not designed to anger China or bring us closer to the brink of war.” “This is just to give the president flexibility to act as the chief architect of our foreign policy as he deems fit. Otherwise, we will have to wait another year if he decides to do so sometime next year without any budget cover," he said. In a separate interview, Escudero also expressed willingness to help the Philippine Coast Guard to augment its intelligence fund allocation in the 2024 national budget so it can help them effectively perform their duties in protecting and defending the country's territorial waters. “I will look into the fact if we can augment--not from the Capital Outlays, Personnel Services or from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses—but from the intelligence and confidential budget already proposed by the DBM,” he said. The post Escudero seeks P100-M budget allocation for Ayungin buildup appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suicide bomber attacks political gathering, kills 44
A suspected suicide bomber attacked a political rally in northwesst Pakistan on Sunday killing at least 44 people and injuring more than 100 others. “There was utter confusion, with human flesh, limbs, and body parts scattered throughout the area, alongside lifeless bodies,” witness Abdullah Khan said after the attack on 400 supporters of the the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F party in the town of Khar, near the Afghan border. “I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh,” Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old party supporter who had his arm fractured by the blast, said. Images from the blast site circulating on social media showed bodies strewn around, and volunteers helping blood-soaked victims to ambulances. Riaz Anwar, the health minister for Khyber Pakht unkhwa province — told Agence France-Presse late Sunday that the bomber detonated himself in close proximity to the stage. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast Sunday on social media, offering condolences to the victims and vowing to punish those responsible. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police said Monday their initial investigation suggested that the local chapter of the Islamic State was behind the bombing, according to Geo News. District Police Officer Nazir Khan said three suspects had been arrested, Geo News reported. The JUI-F is a major ally of the coalition government of Sharif, which is preparing for the November national elections. Last year, IS said it was behind violent attacks against religious scholars affiliated with the party, which has a huge network of mosques and madrassas in the north and west of the country. The jihadist group accuses JUI-F of hypocrisy for being an Islamic group while supporting hostile governments and the military. WITH AFP The post Suicide bomber attacks political gathering, kills 44 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Islamic State claims responsibility for Pakistan blast that killed 54
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Monday for a suicide bomb blast in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people, including 23 children, at a political party gathering ahead of elections due later this year. The blast has raised fears Pakistan could be in for a bloody election period following months of political chaos prompted by the ousting of Imran Khan as prime minister in April last year. Around 400 members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party -- a key government coalition partner led by a firebrand cleric -- were waiting Sunday for speeches to begin when a bomber detonated a vest packed with explosives and ball bearings near the front stage. "I was confronted with a devastating sight -- lifeless bodies scattered on the ground while people cried out for help," Fazal Aman, who was near the tent when the bomb went off, told AFP. Shaukat Abbas, a senior official with the counter-terrorism department (CTD) told AFP that 54 people had been killed, including 23 under the age of 18. On Monday the Islamic State group claimed responsibility. "A suicide attacker from the Islamic State... detonated his explosive jacket in the middle of a crowd" in Khar, the jihadist group's news arm Amaq said in a statement Monday. The attack occurred in the town of Khar in the northwestern Bajaur district, just 45 kilometers from the Afghan border, in an area where militancy has been rising since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. Parliament is likely to be dissolved after it completes its term in the next two weeks, with national elections to be held by mid-November or earlier. The local chapter of the jihadist Islamic State group has in the past targeted JUI-F rallies and leaders. Shattered family On Monday, blood-stained shoes and prayer caps littered the site, along with ball bearings and steel bolts from the suicide vest. Pieces of human flesh could still be seen, blasted 30 meters (100 feet) from the stage where the bomber detonated his device. Thousands of mourners attended the first funeral ceremonies, including for two young cousins aged 16 and 17. "It was not easy for us to lift two coffins. This tragedy has shattered our family," said Najib Ullah, the brother of one of the boys. "Our women are profoundly shocked and devastated. When I see the mothers of the victims, I find myself losing my own courage." JUI-F's leader, cleric Fazl-ur-Rehman, started political life as a firebrand Islamist hardliner, and while his party continues to advocate for socially conservative policies, he has more recently forged alliances with secular rivals. He has operated in the past as a facilitator for talks between the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a rival of the jihadist Islamic State group. Last year, IS said it was behind attacks against religious scholars affiliated with JUI-F, which has a huge network of mosques and schools in the north and west of the country. The jihadist group accuses the JUI-F of hypocrisy for being a religious party while supporting secular governments and the military. JUI-F officials hit out at the government for failing to provide security in areas where militants operate. "The state has not fulfilled its responsibilities. I think the state has failed regardless of who is in power," said Shams uz Zaman, deputy general secretary of its Bajaur branch. "For God's sake take notice of the situation." While Rehman's party never musters more than a dozen or so seats in parliament, they can be crucial in any coalition and his ability to mobilize tens of thousands of religious school students allows him to punch above his weight. "It is important to consider why workers of a religious inclined political party could have been subjected to such bestial violence," Dawn newspaper said in an editorial Monday. "However ultra-conservative the JUI-F's worldview, the party has chosen to contest power and operate within the parameters set by the Constitution of Pakistan." A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said the blast was "an attempt to weaken democracy". Rise in attacks Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban surged back to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. In January, a suicide bomber linked to Pakistan's Taliban blew himself up in a mosque inside a police compound in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing more than 80 officers. The militant assaults have been focused in regions abutting Afghanistan, and Islamabad alleges some are being planned on Afghan soil -- a charge Kabul denies. Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the return of the Afghan Taliban. The blast coincides with a visit to the country by a senior delegation of Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, who arrived in the capital Sunday evening. The post Islamic State claims responsibility for Pakistan blast that killed 54 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»