A suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan at a political convention killed at least 44 people.
The attack targeted the crowd in the town of Khar located near the border with Afghanistan.
RAW VIDEO: Suicide Bomber At Political Rally In Pakistan Kills At Least 40, Injures 130 - Breaking911/ Unreal!!! https://t.co/7iy1pWiQ67
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"The attack, which targeted members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, took place in the town of Khar, situated near the Afghanistan border. The blast left over 130 people injured, with 17 of them in critical condition," Breaking 911 reported.
"According to local authorities, the suspect triggered the explosives in close proximity to the convention’s stage. As of now, there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, the local faction of ISIS has previously directed their attacks towards JUI-F party leaders. The blast was captured on video," it added.
Suicide bomber at political rally in Pakistan kills at least 44, wounds nearly 200 https://t.co/DeKK3ZyNqZ via @timesofisrael
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"Provincial police said in a statement that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives vest close to the stage where several senior leaders of the party were sitting," the Times of Israel reported.
"It said initial investigations suggested the Islamic State group — which operates in Afghanistan and is an enemy of the Afghan Taliban — could be behind the attack, and officers were still investigating," it added.
Whether those responsible are affiliated with the Islamic State or another group in Afghanistan, the act of terror is one of the largest to occur in the region since America's military departure from Afghanistan in 2021.
The Biden administration was heavily criticized for the chaotic departure that included the deaths of 13 American military personnel and over 100 Afghans when a suicide bomb exploded outside of the Kabul airport.
The exit also occurred as the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, leading to several extremist reforms that have attacked women and Christians in the nation.
The latest attack across the border in Pakistan shows that violence is still taking place, including many civilians dying for simply attending a political rally.
