30 Killed in suicide attack at Pakistani shrine

By Ray Sanchez and Sophia Saifi CNN

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- At least 30 people were killed in a suicide attack Thursday at Pakistan's packed Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in the southern city of Sehwan in Sindh province, provincial health minister Sikander Mandhero told CNN.

As many as 100 others were injured, Mandhero said.

The Islamic State Khorasan, ISIS' affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to CNN.

Hundreds of worshipers had gathered at the iconic shrine for the Sufi ritual of Dhamal during the attack.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called the attack "brutal."

"I have directed all the state institutions to mobilize all resources for rescue and relief after this brutal terror attack on Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine," the Prime Minister said in a statement.

The attack comes days after a bomb exploded during a protest in Lahore, Pakistan, on Monday, killing at least 14 people and injuring 59 more, according to government spokesman Malik Ahmad Khan.

Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of Pakistan's Tehreek-i Taliban (TTP) -- also known as the Pakistani Taliban -- claimed responsibility for that attack in a statement emailed to CNN.

CNN's Sophia Saifi reported from Islamabad, with Ray Sanchez writing and reporting in New York. Journalists Adeel Raja and Saleem Mehsud also contributed to this report.

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