Suicide bomber targets Shia worship hall in Pak, kills one

A suicide bomber targeted a Shia worship hall at Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province today, killing at least one person and injuring over 20 others.

The attacker entered the 'imambargah' and detonated his suicide vest near a spot where worshippers perform ablutions, witnesses said.

Scores of people had gathered at the imambargah for evening prayers at the time of the attack.

Sargodha district police chief PA Nasir told reporters the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.

"The guards of the imambargah tried to stop the bomber but he managed to enter the hall," he said.

At least one of the injured succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. The condition of three of them was described by officials as serious.

Witnesses said the bomber who targeted the Darul Uloom Mohammediya was a teenager.

The imambargah is located in a busy commercial area of Sargodha that is usually packed with shoppers on weekends.

Police cordoned off the imambargah and asked people to clear the area.

An emergency was declared in hospitals in Sargodha and announcements were made from mosques for people to donate blood for the injured.

Officials told PTI that security and intelligence agencies had recently alerted Punjab's Home Department that militants could target shrines, imambargahs and mosques that attract large numbers of people.

Nearly 50 people were killed when two suicide bombers targeted the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore on July 1.