IS claims Bangladesh bombing
October 24, 2015
The so-called "Islamic State" terrorist organization, also known simply as IS, carried out the bomb blasts that went off Saturday in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, a monitor has reported.
SITE Intelligence Group, which keeps tabs on Islamic extremism online, said militants affiliated with the group had claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The attack was carried out during the annual Ashoura procession mourning the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. At least one person - a 14-year-old boy - was killed and nearly 80 people were wounded when three bombs went off outside the Huseni Dalan, a Shiite Muslim site.
Growing concern over Sunni extremism
The incident occurred hours after a similar attack that killed 16 people in neighboring Pakistan.
Fears have spread that militant Sunni organizations such as IS are targeting Shiites and other groups in the region. IS appears to have gotten a particularly strong foothold in Bangladesh in recent months, and has claimed responsibility for a recent spate of attacks directed against foreigners.
An Italian aid worker and a Japanese businessman were among those recently murdered in Bangladesh, attacks claimed by IS supporters.
The recent spate of attacks coincide with the Shiite holy month of Moharram.
blc/cmk (Reuters, AFP)