Pakistan: Taliban Claim Responsibility for Karachi Bombing

Voice of America reports:
“A top Pakistani Taliban commander is claiming responsibility for Monday’s attack on a Shi’ite religious procession that killed 43 people and sparked fires that burned for days.”

“Asmatullah Shaheen said Wednesday his group sent the bomber who wreaked havoc on the Ashura ritual in the southern city of Karachi.  He told Reuters news agency that the Taliban ‘will carry out more such attacks within ten days.’ ”

“Sunni Muslim extremists, including the Taliban, regard Shi’ites as heretics. Shi’ites make up one-fifth of Pakistan’s population, while Sunnis account for about 70 percent.”

“Monday’s bomb attack in Karachi was the third in as many days targeting Ashura observances by Pakistani Shi’ites.”

Pakistan: Taliban own Karachi Ashura carnage – killing 44 minority Shiite Muslims
— Dawn: “The claim was made by one of the country’s most wanted commanders of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).”
— Dawn quote of Taliban’s Asmatullah Shaheen: “We carried out the suicide bombing in Karachi”

—  Pakistan Daily Times: Taliban claim Youm-e-Ashur bombing, threaten more attacks
— AKI : Pakistan: Taliban claims deadly attack on Karachi procession

Pakistani investigators collect evidence from the site of Monday's suicide bombing in Karachi, 29 Dec 2009 (Photo AP)