Deadly Bomb Blasts Kill More Than 110 in Pakistan

Posted January 10th, 2013 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
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Four separate bombings killed more than 110 people and wounded nearly 250 across Pakistan Thursday, including 92 deaths in Quetta.

Police in the capital of Baluchistan province say a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a crowded billiard hall, followed by a second bomber there minutes later. The twin blasts killed 81 people, including police and rescue workers. Police say most of the deaths came after the second blast caused the roof of the building to collapse

The billiard hall attacks came just hours after a bomb blast at the Quetta market killed 11 people. Authorities say paramilitary soldiers may have been the target.

The outlawed militant Sunni group Lashkar-e-Jhangive contacted local media to claim responsibility.

Baluchistan has grappled with a separatist insurgency, Islamic militancy, and sectarian violence for decades.

Elsewhere in Pakistan Thursday, at least 21 people were killed and more than 70 dozens wounded in a bombing in the city of Mingora, where a crowd had gathered to hear a speech by a religious leader. Mingora is the largest city in northwestern Pakistan's Swat province.

No one has claimed responsibility for that attack.