September 2010 Quetta bombing: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|2010 bombing in Quetta, Pakistan}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

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| injuries = 200<ref name="aje20100904">{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/09/201093111014874105.html|title=Deadly bombing at Pakistan rally|date=4 September 2010|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=4 September 2010}}</ref>

The '''September 2010 Quetta bombing''' occurred on 3 September 2010 in [[Quetta]], [[Pakistan]].<ref name="bbc20100903">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11177686|title=Quetta rally suicide bomb kills dozens|date=3 September 2010|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> At least 73 people were killed and 206 injured when a bomb exploded in a [[Quds Day]] procession which [[Shia]]s were carrying out to express solidarity with Palestinians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Death toll from Pakistan suicide bombing rises to 73 - CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/03/pakistan.violence/index.html |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=www.cnn.com |language=en}}</ref>

Pakistan, which has a mostly [[Sunni]] population, has seen sectarian attacks against minorities including Shias, who account for about 10-20% of Pakistan's population, and are the followers of the Prophet's progeny.<ref name="zinhua">{{cite web |date=4 September 2010 |title=73 killed in fresh suicide bomb attack in Pakistan |url=https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/l-e-j-group-claims-responsibility-for-suicide-blast-in-pakistans-quetta-xinhua.71514/ |access-date=3 September 2010 |agency=Xinhua News Agency}}</ref> Two days prior to these attacks dozens of Shias were killed in a similar [[September 2010 Lahore bombings|attack]] in [[Lahore]]. Sunni militant groups like [[Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]] and [[Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan]] which operate in Pakistan have for years targeted minorities including Shias.

On the day prior to this attack Pakistan's interior minister [[Rehman Malik]] had asked the Shia community not to hold large gatherings due to security concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Alex |date=2010-09-04 |title=Pakistan suicide bombing kills 58 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-sep-04-la-fg-pakistan-blast-20100904-story.html |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

The procession was to mark the Quds Day event staged every year by the Shia community to oppose Israel's occupation of [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2010-09-03 |title=Suicide bomber kills 53 at Shia rally in Quetta |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/880698/suicide-bomber-kills-53-at-shia-rally-in-quetta |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> The rally drew an estimated 2,500 participants, mostly Shiias. The size of the blast caused a stampede.<ref name="zinhua"/> The explosion occurred in the Meezan chowk area of the town. The bomb exploded around 3:05&nbsp;pm local time. It was estimated that the suicide bomber used about 15 kilograms of explosives.<ref name="xinhua2010"/>

[[Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]] claimed responsibility for the attack and said a 22-year-old suicide bomber, Rashid Moaawia, carried out the attack.<ref name="xinhua2010">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/03/c_13477509.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907205442/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/03/c_13477509.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2010|title=L-e-J group claims responsibility for suicide blast in Pakistan's Quetta|date=3 September 2010|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref>

Following the blast, widespread protests erupted in the city with gunfire being heard across the city. Several shops were burnt by the protesters.<ref name="xinhua2010"/> People were seen lying on the roads to avoid gunfire, while others set fire to vehicles and buildings to vent their anger.<ref name=":0" />

After the blast, police cordoned off the area and fired in the air to hold back people trying to search for their relatives.<ref name="zinhua"/> Shops and schools remained closed the following day. Security was also stepped up at mosques across Pakistan. Thousands attended a funeral mass in Quetta.<ref name="aje20100904x">{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/09/2010948413333315.html|title=Pakistan mourns blast victims|date=4 September 2010|publisher=Al Jazeerah English|access-date=4 September 2010}}</ref>

Prime Minister [[Yousaf Raza Gillani]] condemned the attack and ordered an investigation. Interior Minister [[Rehman Malik]] told the press that militants want to encourage sectarianism in an effort to destabilise the government following a series of military offensives against them. He also claimed that Punjabi, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and al-Qaida and the Tehrik-e-Taliban are one and the same.<ref name="voa20100904">{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Pakistani-Flooding-to-Affect-Fight-Against-Militants-102218169.html|title=Pakistani Flooding Impacts Fight Against Militants|date=4 September 2010|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|access-date=4 September 2010}}</ref> ''Shiite Conference, Balochistan'' announced a 40-day mourning period in line with Shia custom.<ref name="zinhua"/>

UN Secretary General [[Ban Ki-moon]]'s spokesman said "These attacks, which deliberately targeted Shiite Muslims and killed or injured scores of civilians, are unacceptable."<ref name="UN20100903">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35821&Cr=pakistan&Cr1=|title=UN chief deplores deadly attacks against Pakistan's Shiite Muslims|date=3 September 2010|publisher=UN News Centre|access-date=4 September 2010}}</ref>

Condemning the attacks the [[White House]] stated "To target innocent civilians during the Muslim holy month of [[Ramadan]] at an already difficult time as the country is working hard to recover from [[2010 Pakistan floods|terrible flooding]] caused by monsoons makes these acts even more reprehensible."<ref name="afp20100903">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hWrPLE_lAq_hxdByLfIiuCYPQemw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906230446/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hWrPLE_lAq_hxdByLfIiuCYPQemw|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2010|title=US condemns 'reprehensible' Pakistan bombings|date=3 September 2010|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref>

{{Portal|Pakistan}}

*[[Quetta attack (disambiguation)|Quetta attacks]]

{{reflist}}

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESJzCY14Mc8 Video: Scores killed in suicide attack on Pakistan Shia rally], Al Jazeera English

[[Category:2010 murders in Pakistan]]

[[Category:2010s crimes in Quetta]]

[[Category:Persecution of Hazaras]]

[[Category:2010in Balochistan, Pakistan]]

[[Category:Suicide bombings in Quetta]]

[[Category:Mass murder in Quetta]]

[[Category:21st-century mass murder in Pakistan]]

[[Category:2010 fires in Asia]]

[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2010]]

[[Category:September 2010 events in Pakistan]]

[[Category:September 2010 crimes in Asia]]

[[Category:Arson in 2010]]

[[Category:2010 mass shootings in Asia]]

[[Category:Lashkar-e-Jhangvi attacks]]

[[Category:2010 riots]]

[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Pakistan]]

[[Category:Attacks on shops in Asia]]

[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2010]]

[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Quetta]]

[[Category:Pakistan–State of Palestine relations]]

[[Category:Anti-Palestinian sentiment]]

[[Category:Arson attacks on vehicles]]