GARDEZ (SW) – Hundreds of grieving friends and relatives were present when the 34 victims of Friday’s deadly suicide bombing in a Shia community mosque in Paktia were laid to rest today.
Shirin Gardizi, a grieving family member of one of the victims, claimed the security forces were aware of the attack, but they did not take action to prevent it. The victims’ friends and family members criticized government over not ensuring security in this province.
However, Paktia security officials claim the security force were not aware of attack.
According to Sayd Hassan and Sayd Latif, two eyewitnesses of the attack, the male attackers wearing ‘burqa’ firstly attacked the guards outside the mosque, and then opened fire on worshipers before blowing their explosives.
According to Raz Muhammad Mandozi, police chief in Paktia province, the local people had recruited 12 young boys to secure the mosque. He said a total of 76 people got wounded in this deadly attack
According to officials, more than 800 Shia families live Gardez that has three dedicated places of worship for them.
ENDS
