Chemical with detonator used in Pak shrine blast

Pakistani investigators probing the recent suicide bombing on a Sufi shrine near here have determined that a high-power ‘‘chemical...

Pakistani investigators probing the recent suicide bombing on a Sufi shrine near here have determined that a high-power ‘‘chemical explosive device’’ with detonator was used in the blast which killed 20 people and injured over 100.

The chemical was similar to that used in the Marriot hotel explosion on October 28, 2004, local daily Dawn quoted officials.

The Marriot hotel blast, which took place when some US intelligence officials were holding a meeting there, was officially explained at that time as the one caused by the built of gases ignited by a short circuit.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, the parents of the man whose sketch was released after the Friday blast on Bari Imam shrine with an announcement of a reward for his identification, approached police and claimed his body.

A police official said the parents of the man, Mohsin Ali, had arrived from Haripur to claim his body. Ali, a first year college student, was among the devotees who had gathered at the shrine for the Friday prayers as well as to celebrate an annual religious festival when a bearded man walked up to the stage and blew himself up, the newspaper said.

The interrogation team was preparing to release another sketch of the suspected bomber, sources said.

Army experts and a joint investigation team had collected some samples of blood clots and skin pieces from the scene of the attack. But since they were unable to trace any bomb particle from the site, the experts concluded that a chemical device had been used, the newspaper said.

Story continues below this ad

They said blood, muscle and skin tissue samples of the suspected suicide bomber had been sent for DNA tests. The FIR was registered by Islamabad police on Saturday night.