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One killed in rare attack on Bangladesh Shiites

24 October 2015 03:38 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. 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, APA reports quoting AFP.

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 fitted with batteries," Haq told AFP.

Police inspector Mozammel Hoque told AFP that most of the injured were hit by bomb splinters but none was in critical condition.

"Some 50 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.