Bomb Blast In Pakistan, Breaking News Today (News21USA) — A powerful bomb exploded near a mosque at a rally celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing 52 people and wounding nearly 70 more, police and a government official.

The attack occurred in Mastung, a district in Balochistan province, where hundreds of people had gathered for a procession to celebrate the prophet’s birth anniversary. Muslims organize demonstrations and distribute free meals to people on the occasion, known as Mawlid an-Nabi.

Those injured in the explosion were taken to nearby hospitals and some were in critical condition, government administrator Atta Ullah said. Abdul Rasheed, Mastung district health officer, said 30 bodies were taken to one hospital and another 22 were counted at a second hospital.

A senior police officer, Mohammad Nawaz, was among the dead, Ullah said. Officers were investigating to determine whether the attack was a suicide attack, he added.

Friday’s attack came days after authorities asked police to remain on high alert, saying militants could attack demonstrations marking the birthday of Islam’s prophet.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and called on authorities to provide all possible assistance to the injured and the families of the victims.

In a statement, Acting Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti denounced the bombing and expressed his regret and pain at the loss of life. He said it was a “heinous act” to attack people in the Mawlid an-Nabi procession.

The government had declared a national holiday for the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad, and President Alvi and Acting Prime Minister Anwaarul-haq-Kakar had called in separate messages for unity and for people to adhere to the prophet’s teachings. Islam.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, but the Pakistani Taliban quickly distanced themselves from it. The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, is a separate group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 when U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their war. withdrawal from the country after 20 years of war.

The Islamic State group has claimed previous deadly attacks in Balochistan and elsewhere.