Human bomb attacks Pakistan mosque killing 50

NY Times:

A suicide attacker detonated a powerful bomb inside a crowded mosque in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 50 people and injuring 80 as they celebrated one of Islam's major holidays with the country's former interior minister, Pakistani officials said.

The official, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, was unhurt, but his son and two grandnephews were injured in the attack. The bombing was the second assassination attempt in eight months on Mr. Sherpao, who served as the country's top law enforcement official until last month.

In a telephone interview, Mr. Sherpao said that the bomb exploded as he and his relatives prayed in the front row of worshipers. He said he believed that the attacker had detonated the bomb in the third or fourth row of worshipers.

"It was a massacre," Mr. Sherpao said, his voice shaking with anger. "I can tell you that."

Independent Pakistani television stations showed images of blood-spattered prayer caps and clothes scattered across a white marble courtyard outside the mosque. Trails of scarlet blood marked where the injured were dragged from the building. Dozens of pairs of shoes – those of the dead and wounded -- lay abandoned.

...

In April, a suicide bomber killed 28 people in an attack on Mr. Sherpao's political party in the nearby town of Charsadda. Mr. Sherpao was slightly injured in that attack.

...

An attack inside a mosque during Id al-Adha, one of the most important Muslim holidays, represents an escalation of violence by militants who have carried out an unprecedented number of suicide bombings this year. Hundreds of Pakistani civilians have died in the attacks.

...

Its a quagmire. Pakistan must withdraw from Pakistan. As Ron Paul might say, "If Pakistan did not have its army in Pakistan, there would be no reason to bomb there."

OK. That is enough ridicule of al Qaeda's useful idiots. Now it is time to discuss the sickos in charge of al Qaeda. How many Korans did they desecrate with this attack? More importantly how many Muslims have they alienated with this attack. It was just this kind of nonsense that drove the Sunnis to war with al Qaeda in Iraq and alienated much of the Muslim world. Now they are doing in the only country where they have an active sanctuary. Their sickness is catching up with them. If they are going to all this trouble to kill one guy, it makes you wonder if they have never heard of a sniper rifle. But that would not make the same political statement would it. They want to frighten people who get close to authority figures.

CNN reports that a madrasa was raided after the attack and seven "students" were arrested. CNN reports that police "believe the former minister was targeted over his supervision of operations against militants in Pakistan's tribal areas including the restive NWFP." It is probably a good theory.