At least 7 killed in attack on Shi'ite procession in Pakistan

A roadside bomb killed at least seven people near a Shi'ite procession in Pakistan on Saturday, police said, while security forces are on high alert over fears of large-scale sectarian attacks on the minority sect across the country.    

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed US ally, is suspending phone coverage in many cities this weekend, an important one in the Shi'ite Muslim calendar, after a series of bomb attacks on Shi'ites triggered by mobile phones.    

Saturday's attack occurred in the city of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan's northwest, a stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked Sunni militant groups who regard Shi'ites as non-Muslims and have stepped up sectarian attacks in a bid to destabilize Pakistan.    

Four children were among those killed by an 8-10 kg bomb set off by a television remote control device because cellphones were not operational, police said. Pakistani television stations showed footage of children in hospital beds, who were among 17 wounded.    

Intelligence information indicates more attacks have been planned for the coming days in the capital city of Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta. Mobile phone service will be suspended for hours in the three cities and dozens of others over the weekend.


REUTERS