One killed in rare attack on Bangladesh Shiites

Doctors attend to a little girl in Dhaka medical college hospital after a small bomb exploded outside Bangladesh capital’s main Shia religious site in Dhaka on October 24, 2015. At least one person was killed and nearly 80 wounded in a bomb attack outside the main Shiite site in the Bangladeshi capital as thousands gathered for the annual Ashura procession, police said. AFP

At least one person was killed and nearly 80 wounded Saturday in a bomb attack outside the main Shiite site in the Bangladeshi capital as thousands gathered for the annual Ashura procession, police said.

Police said it was believed to be first time Bangladesh’s tiny Shiite Muslim community has been targeted and came just weeks after an Italian aid worker and a Japanese farmer were shot dead in attacks claimed by Islamic State group.

Officers said a 14-year-old boy died on the spot after three small bombs were thrown outside the Hossaini Dalan, the main Shiite site in the old Mughal quarter of Dhaka, at about 2:00 am Saturday (2000 GMT Friday).

“There were some 20,000 people in and outside the building at that time. They were preparing to hold the annual Muharram mourning procession when the three (bombs) were exploded outside the Hossaini Dalan,” deputy commissioner of Dhaka Police Mofiz Uddin Ahmed told AFP.

Local police chief Azizul Haq said at least one person was killed and around 80 injured in the attack.

“We’ve recovered two unexploded bombs. These are like explosive devices and almost like grenades and with batteries,” Haq told AFP.

Police inspector Mozammel Hoque told AFP that most of the injured were hit by bomb splinters.

“They were brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A 14-year-old boy was brought in dead. He died due to the explosion,” he said.

Local television station Somoy TV showed live footage of people running helter skelter moments after the blasts. Many people including girls were seen being taken to hospital by ambulance.

The holy month of Muharram sees Shiites hold processions and gatherings to mourn the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussain at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680 AD, reaching a climax on the day of Ashura.

While it was believed to be the first attack on Shiites in Bangladesh, in the past two years banned Islamist militant groups have killed more than a dozen Sufi Muslims and attacked Hindus and Christians.

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