Suicide Blast at Swat Police Funeral; 35 Dead
A suicide bomber attacked the funeral for a slain police officer in Pakistan’s volatile Swat Valley, killing at least 35 people and wounding 62 others, police said.
The attack occurred at a government high school in Mingora town while funeral prayers were being held for Javed Iqbal, who was killed in a roadside bombing earlier in the day.
About 800 people were at the funeral, including civilians and police officials, said Shahbuddin, an assistant inspector of police who was at the funeral on security duty and who uses one name.
The explosion occurred just as the pallbearers lifted the coffin to carry it toward the grave, he told The Associated Press.
“As the coffin was lifted I moved toward the gate but suddenly a big explosion took place, which dashed me against the gate … It was hell. Everybody was crying for help,” said Shahbuddin, who was slightly injured in the attack.