Car Bomb Kills 10 After Eid Prayers in Pakistan

Posted August 31st, 2011 at 9:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Pakistani police say a suspected suicide car bomber killed 10 people, including women and children, after morning prayers Wednesday at the start of Eid al-Fitr in southwestern Baluchistan province.

Authorities say hundreds of people were leaving a Shi'ite mosque in Quetta when the bomb exploded in a nearby parking lot.

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day Muslim festival celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Police believe the bomber was targeting the mosque, but could not get close enough because the road was blocked.

At least 20 people were wounded. The explosion also set several vehicles on fire and damaged at least one nearby building.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Quetta is home to both Taliban militants and nationalists who have fought against the government for decades.

Pakistan also has a long history of sectarian violence between the country's majority Sunni-Muslims and the significant Shi'ite minority.