Islamic extremists killed at least 36 people Friday, including senior army officers and their children, as they gathered for prayers at a mosque for soldiers in Rawalpindi, the home of Pakistan's military headquarters.
Five active-duty officers died in the small-arms, grenade and suicide bomb attack -- Maj. Gen. Bilal Umar, the director general of the army's armored corps; a brigadier; two lieutenant colonels; and a major -- the military said in a statement. Gen. Mohammad Yusuf, a former vice chief of the military, was among the 75 people who were wounded.
At least 11 of the 17 children who died were the sons of army officers, including the son of a major general and the sons of two brigadiers. The fathers of three senior officers, including the father of a major general, also were killed. |