Deposed cleric of Pakistan's Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz, who occupied the state-owned mosque here and asserted his claim to be its prayer leader, has agreed to vacate it by Tuesday after striking a deal with the government. Aziz was removed from the post on the orders of the court in 2004 following a fatwa he issued against the army and the operation against terrorists in Waziristan.

However, he was reinstated after his release from prison in 2009, but he stirred another controversy in 2014 after he openly extended support to the perpetrators of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar by calling it a reactionary move by the terrorists. Lal Masjid is a state-owned mosque in Islamabad and Maulana Abdullah, the father of Aziz, was its first cleric. After his assassination in the 1990s, Aziz was appointed the cleric by the Islamabad Capital Territory's (ICT) Auqaf Department.

He returned to the mosque about two weeks ago and occupied the pulpit, delivering a fiery sermon against the government on Friday and demanding implementation of the Sharia law in the country. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, the cleric on Sunday struck a deal with the government to vacate the compound by Tuesday in lieu of a 20 Kanal (2.5 acres) piece of land in the capital to set up a Jamia Hafsa, a women seminary.

He also agreed that his female students would vacate a building of a seminary in H-11 area of Islamabad which they forcibly occupied apparently on his behest after he took over the mosque. Several rounds of talks were held since he took over the mosque, including one facilitated by the banned anti-Shiite extremist group Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), but remained inconclusive.

The cleric was demanding a hefty amount of Rs 250 million along with a large piece of land to establish Jamia Hafsa and the possession of the adjacent old children's library plot, the report said. However, he agreed to have the land in Islamabad which could be worth millions of rupees depending on its exact location.

Almost all the land of Jamia Hafsa where he resides has been built on encroached land after covering a natural watercourse. Aziz was caught during a 2007 operation when he was trying to escape clad in a woman's full veil (burqa). The operation was launched by former president Pervez Musharraf in which Aziz's younger brother, Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, was killed.

Several cases were also launched against him but he was not convicted and allowed to walk free from imprisonment after some time. He has been living in Islamabad since then. In 2014, he named a library in a female seminary after Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden - Maktbah Usama bin Laden Shaheed- to the anguish of the Pakistan government.

Deposed cleric of Pakistan's Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz, who occupied the state-owned mosque here and asserted his claim to be its prayer leader, has agreed to vacate it by Tuesday after striking a deal with the government.

Deposed cleric of Pakistan's Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz, who occupied the state-owned mosque here and asserted his claim to be its prayer leader, has agreed to vacate it by Tuesday after striking a deal with the government. Aziz was removed from the post on the orders of the court in 2004 following a fatwa he issued against the army and the operation against terrorists in Waziristan. However, he was reinstated after his release from prison in 2009, but he stirred another controversy in 2014 after he openly extended support to the perpetrators of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar by calling it a reactionary move by the terrorists. Lal Masjid is a state-owned mosque in Islamabad and Maulana Abdullah, the father of Aziz, was its first cleric. After his assassination in the 1990s, Aziz was appointed the cleric by the Islamabad Capital Territory's (ICT) Auqaf Department. He returned to the mosque about two weeks ago and occupied the pulpit, delivering a fiery sermon against the government on Friday and demanding implementation of the Sharia law in the country. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, the cleric on Sunday struck a deal with the government to vacate the compound by Tuesday in lieu of a 20 Kanal (2.5 acres) piece of land in the capital to set up a Jamia Hafsa, a women seminary. He also agreed that his female students would vacate a building of a seminary in H-11 area of Islamabad which they forcibly occupied apparently on his behest after he took over the mosque. Several rounds of talks were held since he took over the mosque, including one facilitated by the banned anti-Shiite extremist group Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), but remained inconclusive. The cleric was demanding a hefty amount of Rs 250 million along with a large piece of land to establish Jamia Hafsa and the possession of the adjacent old children's library plot, the report said. However, he agreed to have the land in Islamabad which could be worth millions of rupees depending on its exact location. Almost all the land of Jamia Hafsa where he resides has been built on encroached land after covering a natural watercourse. Aziz was caught during a 2007 operation when he was trying to escape clad in a woman's full veil (burqa). The operation was launched by former president Pervez Musharraf in which Aziz's younger brother, Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, was killed. Several cases were also launched against him but he was not convicted and allowed to walk free from imprisonment after some time. He has been living in Islamabad since then. In 2014, he named a library in a female seminary after Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden - Maktbah Usama bin Laden Shaheed- to the anguish of the Pakistan government.

Deposed Pakistan's Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz agrees to vacate mosque after striking deal with government

Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader and the city's police chief visited a mosque on Monday that was struck with blue dye from a water cannon during the latest bout of violent protests.

The entrance to the Kowloon Mosque, the international hub's largest, was sprayed by a water cannon truck on Sunday, causing anger among both local Muslims and protesters.

Police use the dye, often mixed with an irritant, as a way to identify protesters but it has frequently left streets and buildings daubed in a garish blue.

Video footage shot Sunday showed the truck pulling up outside the building during confrontations with protesters, pausing and then spraying around half a dozen journalists and bystanders who were gathered on the street outside.

The group, who did not <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-to-visit-japan-after-huge-rally-night-of-violence-257151">appear to be protesters</a>, was struck twice, with much of the bright blue jet painting the mosque's entrance and steps.

Police released a statement on Sunday saying the mosque was hit by mistake but did not apologise.

On Monday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam and police chief Stephen Lo paid a brief visit to the mosque, surrounded by a phalanx of security guards.

They emerged some 20 minutes later without speaking to the media.

Mosque representatives told reporters that the two had apologised for the water cannon incident and that the apology had been accepted.

The representatives also thanked worshippers and Hong Kongers who flocked to clean the mosque soon after the incident.

The original Kowloon Mosque was built in the late nineteenth century to cater for Muslim soldiers from British-ruled India.

It was rebuilt in the early 1980s and remains a centre of Hong Kong's 300,000-strong Muslim community.

Lam's office and the police did not respond to requests for comment on the visit.

A police source told AFP the commissioner did apologise and further details would be released later in the day.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tear-gas-and-water-cannon-as-crowds-defy-hong-kong-rally-ban-257060">Hong Kong was convulsed by another day of violence on Sunday</a> as the city nears five months of seething pro-democracy protests.

Tens of thousands joined an unauthorised but peaceful afternoon rally which quickly descended into chaos as small groups of hardcore protesters threw petrol bombs and rocks at a police station, mainland China businesses and multiple subway station entrances.

Police responded with water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes that lasted well into the night.

Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader and the city's police chief visited a mosque on Monday that was struck with blue dye from a water cannon during the latest bout of violent protests.

Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader and the city's police chief visited a mosque on Monday that was struck with blue dye from a water cannon during the latest bout of violent protests. The entrance to the Kowloon Mosque, the international hub's largest, was sprayed by a water cannon truck on Sunday, causing anger among both local Muslims and protesters. Police use the dye, often mixed with an irritant, as a way to identify protesters but it has frequently left streets and buildings daubed in a garish blue. Video footage shot Sunday showed the truck pulling up outside the building during confrontations with protesters, pausing and then spraying around half a dozen journalists and bystanders who were gathered on the street outside. The group, who did not appear to be protesters, was struck twice, with much of the bright blue jet painting the mosque's entrance and steps. Police released a statement on Sunday saying the mosque was hit by mistake but did not apologise. On Monday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam and police chief Stephen Lo paid a brief visit to the mosque, surrounded by a phalanx of security guards. They emerged some 20 minutes later without speaking to the media. Mosque representatives told reporters that the two had apologised for the water cannon incident and that the apology had been accepted. The representatives also thanked worshippers and Hong Kongers who flocked to clean the mosque soon after the incident. The original Kowloon Mosque was built in the late nineteenth century to cater for Muslim soldiers from British-ruled India. It was rebuilt in the early 1980s and remains a centre of Hong Kong's 300,000-strong Muslim community. Lam's office and the police did not respond to requests for comment on the visit. A police source told AFP the commissioner did apologise and further details would be released later in the day. Hong Kong was convulsed by another day of violence on Sunday as the city nears five months of seething pro-democracy protests. Tens of thousands joined an unauthorised but peaceful afternoon rally which quickly descended into chaos as small groups of hardcore protesters threw petrol bombs and rocks at a police station, mainland China businesses and multiple subway station entrances. Police responded with water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes that lasted well into the night.

Hong Kong leader visits mosque struck by blue water-cannon dye

Death toll in Friday's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-17-killed-in-afghanistan-mosque-blast-officials-256710">mosque bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar</a> province has risen to 72. 
 
Local authorities confirmed that it was a suicide bomber that detonated explosives inside the mosque, Tolo News reported. 
 
The residents of the Jaw Dara village are still pulling people out of the debris of the mosque that was rocked by the blast around 1:30 pm (local time) on Friday. 
 
"Four people are missing and we are searching to find their bodies. In total we have lost 72 people in the blast and around 30 others were wounded, and yet it is not clear if it was a blast due to explosives," said Waqifullah, a resident of the district. 
 
"There were two attackers, one entered the mosque and detonated his explosives and the second attacker fled the area," said Amir Hamza, an army commander in the district. 
 
Taliban has denied any involvement in the attack and no other group has claimed the responsibility. 
 
Sediq Sediqqi, President Ghani's spokesperson, in a tweet strongly condemned the blasts in the mosque. 
 
This comes two days after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing near police headquarters that claimed the lives of two members of the Afghan Security Forces and injured 26 other people in Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman.

Death toll in Friday's mosque bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province has risen to 72. Local authorities confirmed that it was a suicide bomber that detonated explosives inside the mosque, Tolo News reported.

Death toll in Friday's mosque bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province has risen to 72. Local authorities confirmed that it was a suicide bomber that detonated explosives inside the mosque, Tolo News reported. The residents of the Jaw Dara village are still pulling people out of the debris of the mosque that was rocked by the blast around 1:30 pm (local time) on Friday. "Four people are missing and we are searching to find their bodies. In total we have lost 72 people in the blast and around 30 others were wounded, and yet it is not clear if it was a blast due to explosives," said Waqifullah, a resident of the district. "There were two attackers, one entered the mosque and detonated his explosives and the second attacker fled the area," said Amir Hamza, an army commander in the district. Taliban has denied any involvement in the attack and no other group has claimed the responsibility. Sediq Sediqqi, President Ghani's spokesperson, in a tweet strongly condemned the blasts in the mosque. This comes two days after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing near police headquarters that claimed the lives of two members of the Afghan Security Forces and injured 26 other people in Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman.

Afghanistan: Mosque bomb blast death toll rises to 72

One person was injured in a shooting inside a mosque in a suburb of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Saturday, police said, adding that a suspect had been arrested.

"One person is shot. The severity of that person's injuries is unknown. One suspect is arrested. The police are working at the location," Oslo police said on Twitter.

The shooting occurred at the al-Noor Islamic centre in the town of Baerum, an Oslo suburb.

Police said there was no indication that more people were involved.

They said they had no information about the suspect, other than he was described as "white".&nbsp;

"One of our members has been shot by a white man with a helmet and uniform," Irfan Mushtaq, head of the mosque, told local paper Budstikka.

One person was injured in a shooting inside a mosque in a suburb of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Saturday, police said, adding that a suspect had been arrested.

One person was injured in a shooting inside a mosque in a suburb of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Saturday, police said, adding that a suspect had been arrested. "One person is shot. The severity of that person's injuries is unknown. One suspect is arrested. The police are working at the location," Oslo police said on Twitter. The shooting occurred at the al-Noor Islamic centre in the town of Baerum, an Oslo suburb. Police said there was no indication that more people were involved. They said they had no information about the suspect, other than he was described as "white". "One of our members has been shot by a white man with a helmet and uniform," Irfan Mushtaq, head of the mosque, told local paper Budstikka.

One person hurt in Norway mosque shooting, suspect arrested

A bomb killed a senior Islamic preacher and wounded at least 16 devotees inside a mosque in the Afghan capital during Friday prayers, interior ministry officials said.

The preacher, Mawlawi Rayhan, was a supporter of the Western-backed Afghan government which Taliban militants are trying to bring down.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The explosion hit the Al-Taqwa mosque at a time when dozens of men had gathered for prayers. At least 16 men, all civilians, were injured.

The death toll could rise, said a second official.

"We have rushed ambulances to the blast site," said a senior official in Kabul.

A bomb killed a senior Islamic preacher and wounded at least 16 devotees inside a mosque in the Afghan capital during Friday prayers, interior ministry officials said.

A bomb killed a senior Islamic preacher and wounded at least 16 devotees inside a mosque in the Afghan capital during Friday prayers, interior ministry officials said. The preacher, Mawlawi Rayhan, was a supporter of the Western-backed Afghan government which Taliban militants are trying to bring down. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosion hit the Al-Taqwa mosque at a time when dozens of men had gathered for prayers. At least 16 men, all civilians, were injured. The death toll could rise, said a second official. "We have rushed ambulances to the blast site," said a senior official in Kabul.

Bomb kills senior cleric during Friday prayers at Afghan mosque

NK&nbsp;Masliya says she has been visiting a neighbourhood clinic in the northwestern&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lankan village of Rathmalyaya for over five years, always dressed in a black abaya - a cloak-like over-garment worn by some Muslim women.

But when Masliya went to the clinic nearly three weeks after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-says-jihadi-threat-persists-despite-arrests-216736">Islamic militants killed over 250 people</a> in churches and hotels across the country, she said things had changed.

The 36-year-old said she was in a queue with her five-year-old daughter when a nurse told her to remove her abaya, saying: "What if you blow us up with your bomb?"

Muslim groups say they have received dozens of complaints from across&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;about people from the community being harassed at workplaces, including government offices, hospitals and in public transport since the Easter Sunday attacks.

The government has blamed the attacks on two little-known radical Islamic groups. Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

In the city of Negombo, where over 100 people were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-catholic-schools-to-reopen-after-easter-day-attacks-217276">killed at the St&nbsp;Sebastian's Church during Easter prayers</a>, many Pakistani refugees said they fled after threats of revenge from locals.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-sri-lanka-terror-attacks-200-islamic-clerics-deported-216839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Now, anger against&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;seems to be spreading. On Sunday, a violent clash erupted between local&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;and Christians after a traffic dispute.

"The suspicion towards them (Muslims) can grow and there can be localised attacks," said Jehan Perera of the non-partisan advocacy group, the National Peace Council. "That would be the danger."

A ban on facial veils and house-to-house searches by security forces in Muslim-majority neighbourhoods across the country have added to the distrust.

The government says it is aware of tensions between communities and is closely monitoring the situation.

"The government is consciously in dialogue with all the religious leaders and the community leaders," Nalaka Kaluwewa,&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's director general of information, told Reuters, adding that security has been increased across the country to avoid any communal tensions.

BUDDHIST HARDLINERS

Muslims&nbsp;make up nearly 10 per cent of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's population of 22 million, which is predominantly Buddhist. The Indian Ocean island was torn for decades by a civil war between separatists from the mostly Hindu Tamil minority and the Sinhala Buddhist-dominated government.

The government stamped out the rebellion about 10 years ago.

In recent years, Buddhist hardliners, led by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or "Buddhist Power Force", have stoked hostility against&nbsp;Muslims, saying influences from the Middle East had made&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;more conservative and isolated.

Last year, scores of Muslim mosques, homes and businesses were destroyed as Buddhist mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district previously known for its diversity and tolerance.

The violence in Kandy was triggered by an attack on a Buddhist truck driver by four Muslim men after a traffic dispute. The driver later died from the injuries.

BBS' chief executive Dilantha Vithanage said as successive&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lankan governments had failed to address what he called a rise in Islamic extremism,&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lankans might be forced to do it on their own.

"This is a bigger danger than Tamil separatism," Vithanage told Reuters.

Sri&nbsp;Lanka's junior defence minister,&nbsp;Ruwan Wijewardene,&nbsp;told Reuters the government was taking measures to curb radicalisation but conceded that communal tensions were a big concern.

BOYCOTTING BUSINESSES

In Batticaloa, an eastern city home mainly to Christians and Hindus and where a bomber from a neighbouring town attacked an evangelical church on Easter, a Tamil group has called for a boycott of Muslim-run businesses.

The alleged ringleader of the Easter attacks, preacher Zahran Hashim, and the bomber who targeted Zion Church in Batticaloa were natives of neighbouring Kattankudy, a Muslim-dominated town.

"If you have any dignity, stop buying from Muslim shops," read a red-inked leaflet distributed in Batticaloa and produced by a group called 'Tamil Youth, Eastern Province'.

Two members of the group, who both said had lost relatives in the blast, told Reuters that resentment had been building for years against the people of Kattankudy.&nbsp;

"They have always been hostile towards us. They do not eat from our places. If they are going to grow by insulating themselves, we might as well too," one of them said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The business has plummeted at the around 250 Muslim-owned stores in Batticaloa and some will be forced to shut unless sales pick up, said Mohamed Kaleel, the vice-president of the Batticaloa Traders Association.&nbsp;

PRIOR WARNINGS

Among many&nbsp;Muslims, resentment is also building because they believe the community is being unfairly targeted, even though the government was warned repeatedly about possible attacks.

The government has said it had received prior warnings about impending attacks on churches but these were not shared across agencies and admitted that was a lapse.

Muslim community leaders have also said they had repeatedly warned the authorities about Zahran, the alleged mastermind, for years.

"The government knew about the bombings and yet they didn't take any action. But once it happened, they are targeting us, innocent people. This is not fair," said Milhan, a resident in the northwestern town of Puttalam.

Abdullah, a Muslim preacher in Puttalam who declined to give his full name, said the discrimination will alienate&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;and make them more vulnerable.

"By doing this, extremism will only increase, it won't go away. This is what happened with the Tamils," he said.

NK Masliya says she has been visiting a neighbourhood clinic in the northwestern Sri Lankan village of Rathmalyaya for over five years, always dressed in a black abaya - a cloak-like over-garment worn by some Muslim women.

NK Masliya says she has been visiting a neighbourhood clinic in the northwestern Sri Lankan village of Rathmalyaya for over five years, always dressed in a black abaya - a cloak-like over-garment worn by some Muslim women. But when Masliya went to the clinic nearly three weeks after Islamic militants killed over 250 people in churches and hotels across the country, she said things had changed. The 36-year-old said she was in a queue with her five-year-old daughter when a nurse told her to remove her abaya, saying: "What if you blow us up with your bomb?" Muslim groups say they have received dozens of complaints from across Sri Lanka about people from the community being harassed at workplaces, including government offices, hospitals and in public transport since the Easter Sunday attacks. The government has blamed the attacks on two little-known radical Islamic groups. Islamic State has claimed responsibility. In the city of Negombo, where over 100 people were killed at the St Sebastian's Church during Easter prayers, many Pakistani refugees said they fled after threats of revenge from locals. Now, anger against Muslims seems to be spreading. On Sunday, a violent clash erupted between local Muslims and Christians after a traffic dispute. "The suspicion towards them (Muslims) can grow and there can be localised attacks," said Jehan Perera of the non-partisan advocacy group, the National Peace Council. "That would be the danger." A ban on facial veils and house-to-house searches by security forces in Muslim-majority neighbourhoods across the country have added to the distrust. The government says it is aware of tensions between communities and is closely monitoring the situation. "The government is consciously in dialogue with all the religious leaders and the community leaders," Nalaka Kaluwewa, Sri Lanka's director general of information, told Reuters, adding that security has been increased across the country to avoid any communal tensions. BUDDHIST HARDLINERS Muslims make up nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's population of 22 million, which is predominantly Buddhist. The Indian Ocean island was torn for decades by a civil war between separatists from the mostly Hindu Tamil minority and the Sinhala Buddhist-dominated government. The government stamped out the rebellion about 10 years ago. In recent years, Buddhist hardliners, led by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or "Buddhist Power Force", have stoked hostility against Muslims, saying influences from the Middle East had made Sri Lanka's Muslims more conservative and isolated. Last year, scores of Muslim mosques, homes and businesses were destroyed as Buddhist mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district previously known for its diversity and tolerance. The violence in Kandy was triggered by an attack on a Buddhist truck driver by four Muslim men after a traffic dispute. The driver later died from the injuries. BBS' chief executive Dilantha Vithanage said as successive Sri Lankan governments had failed to address what he called a rise in Islamic extremism, Sri Lankans might be forced to do it on their own. "This is a bigger danger than Tamil separatism," Vithanage told Reuters. Sri Lanka's junior defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, told Reuters the government was taking measures to curb radicalisation but conceded that communal tensions were a big concern. BOYCOTTING BUSINESSES In Batticaloa, an eastern city home mainly to Christians and Hindus and where a bomber from a neighbouring town attacked an evangelical church on Easter, a Tamil group has called for a boycott of Muslim-run businesses. The alleged ringleader of the Easter attacks, preacher Zahran Hashim, and the bomber who targeted Zion Church in Batticaloa were natives of neighbouring Kattankudy, a Muslim-dominated town. "If you have any dignity, stop buying from Muslim shops," read a red-inked leaflet distributed in Batticaloa and produced by a group called 'Tamil Youth, Eastern Province'. Two members of the group, who both said had lost relatives in the blast, told Reuters that resentment had been building for years against the people of Kattankudy. "They have always been hostile towards us. They do not eat from our places. If they are going to grow by insulating themselves, we might as well too," one of them said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The business has plummeted at the around 250 Muslim-owned stores in Batticaloa and some will be forced to shut unless sales pick up, said Mohamed Kaleel, the vice-president of the Batticaloa Traders Association. PRIOR WARNINGS Among many Muslims, resentment is also building because they believe the community is being unfairly targeted, even though the government was warned repeatedly about possible attacks. The government has said it had received prior warnings about impending attacks on churches but these were not shared across agencies and admitted that was a lapse. Muslim community leaders have also said they had repeatedly warned the authorities about Zahran, the alleged mastermind, for years. "The government knew about the bombings and yet they didn't take any action. But once it happened, they are targeting us, innocent people. This is not fair," said Milhan, a resident in the northwestern town of Puttalam. Abdullah, a Muslim preacher in Puttalam who declined to give his full name, said the discrimination will alienate Muslims and make them more vulnerable. "By doing this, extremism will only increase, it won't go away. This is what happened with the Tamils," he said.

Muslims afraid, resentful as ethnic divide deepens in Sri Lanka

Explosives were recovered from the backyard of a mosque at Welipenna on Friday night during a joint operation carried out by the Special Task Force and the police, reported Daily Mirror on Saturday.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lanka-suicide-bombers-visited-kashmir-kerala-for-some-sorts-of-training-army-chief-215900">Sri Lanka suicide bombers visited Kashmir, Kerala for 'some sorts of training': Army chief</a>

The police found three locally made bombs and 100 grams of ammonia buried at the mosque.

The police said a 42-year-old suspect was arrested after the recovery of explosives.

Authorities also seized 16 circuit boards of high technology, 16 SIM cards, several compacts discs, computer accessories and a car in a house at Pirivena Mawatha in Mount Lavinia.

According to police, each circuit board had the capacity to contain 12 SIM cards. A 52-year-old man was also detained along with these items.

The recovery was made after Sri Lanka Catholic Church on Thursday<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-roman-catholic-church-cancels-sunday-mass-over-bomb-attack-fear-215315"> cancelled Sunday masses</a> due to fear of fresh bomb attacks.

The state media quoted Father Edmund Tillakaratne as saying that public masses were suspended for a second week, but a service conducted by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will be broadcast on the national television.

The churches across the country have been closed since the April 21 deadly coordinated Easter Sunday bombings, which killed at least 253 people and injured hundreds.&nbsp;

Explosives were recovered from the backyard of a mosque at Welipenna on Friday night during a joint operation carried out by the Special Task Force and the police, reported Daily Mirror on Saturday.

Explosives were recovered from the backyard of a mosque at Welipenna on Friday night during a joint operation carried out by the Special Task Force and the police, reported Daily Mirror on Saturday. Also read: Sri Lanka suicide bombers visited Kashmir, Kerala for 'some sorts of training': Army chief The police found three locally made bombs and 100 grams of ammonia buried at the mosque. The police said a 42-year-old suspect was arrested after the recovery of explosives. Authorities also seized 16 circuit boards of high technology, 16 SIM cards, several compacts discs, computer accessories and a car in a house at Pirivena Mawatha in Mount Lavinia. According to police, each circuit board had the capacity to contain 12 SIM cards. A 52-year-old man was also detained along with these items. The recovery was made after Sri Lanka Catholic Church on Thursday cancelled Sunday masses due to fear of fresh bomb attacks. The state media quoted Father Edmund Tillakaratne as saying that public masses were suspended for a second week, but a service conducted by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will be broadcast on the national television. The churches across the country have been closed since the April 21 deadly coordinated Easter Sunday bombings, which killed at least 253 people and injured hundreds.

Sri Lanka: Explosives found buried in mosque backyard

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre, National Commission for Women, Central Waqf Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board on a plea seeking direction that Muslim women be allowed to enter mosques and offer prayers.

The petition, filed by Pune-based couple Yasmeen and Zubair Ahmed Peerzade, seeks direction to declare the prohibition on entry of Muslim women into mosques in the country "illegal and unconstitutional" as it violates of women's fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 and 29 of the Indian Constitution.

The bench told the counsel appearing for the petitioner that it will hear the matter because of the apex court's judgment in the case involving Kerala's Sabarimala temple.

"The only reason we may hear you is because of our judgment in the Sabarimala temple case," it said.

In September last year, the court had ruled in favour of allowing menstruating women to enter the holy shrine of lord Ayyapa in Kerala's Sabarimala temple. The court will decide if right to equality can be applied to non-state actors.

&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre, National Commission for Women, Central Waqf Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board on a plea seeking direction that Muslim women be allowed to enter mosques and offer prayers.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre, National Commission for Women, Central Waqf Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board on a plea seeking direction that Muslim women be allowed to enter mosques and offer prayers. The petition, filed by Pune-based couple Yasmeen and Zubair Ahmed Peerzade, seeks direction to declare the prohibition on entry of Muslim women into mosques in the country "illegal and unconstitutional" as it violates of women's fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 and 29 of the Indian Constitution. The bench told the counsel appearing for the petitioner that it will hear the matter because of the apex court's judgment in the case involving Kerala's Sabarimala temple. "The only reason we may hear you is because of our judgment in the Sabarimala temple case," it said. In September last year, the court had ruled in favour of allowing menstruating women to enter the holy shrine of lord Ayyapa in Kerala's Sabarimala temple. The court will decide if right to equality can be applied to non-state actors.

Women's entry in mosques: Supreme Court issues notice to the Centre, women's panel

The man accused of carrying out the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-shooters-back-gun-control-after-christchurch-massacre-207107">Christchurch mosque attacks</a> last month will face 50 murder charges when he appears in court this week, New Zealand police said Thursday.

"The man arrested in relation to the Christchurch terror attacks will face 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in the High Court in Christchurch on Friday," police said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-in-christchurch-for-remembrance-service-after-mass-shooting-206390">Australian Brenton Tarrant</a> was previously charged with one murder as a holding measure, but police said all the deaths and injuries in the March 15 attacks would be reflected in upgraded charges during his next appearance on Friday.

"The man arrested in relation to the Christchurch terror attacks will face 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in the High Court in Christchurch on Friday," they said in a statement.

Police said further charges were being considered against Tarrant -- a self-avowed white supremacist -- but did not specify what they were.

They could relate to whether the court deems attack a terrorist act.

The 28-year-old will appear via video link in the Christchurch court from a maximum-security prison in Auckland.&nbsp;

A note from the court this week said the appearance was likely to be brief and would "ascertain the defendant's position regarding legal representation" and other procedural matters.&nbsp;

Tarrant sacked a court-appointed lawyer after his first court appearance on March 16, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a propaganda platform.

The court said Tarrant would not be required to enter a plea during Friday's hearing.&nbsp;

The court has now barred media from filming or photographing the accused.

&nbsp;

The man accused of carrying out the Christchurch mosque attacks last month will face 50 murder charges when he appears in court this week, New Zealand police said Thursday.

The man accused of carrying out the Christchurch mosque attacks last month will face 50 murder charges when he appears in court this week, New Zealand police said Thursday. "The man arrested in relation to the Christchurch terror attacks will face 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in the High Court in Christchurch on Friday," police said in a statement. Australian Brenton Tarrant was previously charged with one murder as a holding measure, but police said all the deaths and injuries in the March 15 attacks would be reflected in upgraded charges during his next appearance on Friday. "The man arrested in relation to the Christchurch terror attacks will face 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in the High Court in Christchurch on Friday," they said in a statement. Police said further charges were being considered against Tarrant -- a self-avowed white supremacist -- but did not specify what they were. They could relate to whether the court deems attack a terrorist act. The 28-year-old will appear via video link in the Christchurch court from a maximum-security prison in Auckland. A note from the court this week said the appearance was likely to be brief and would "ascertain the defendant's position regarding legal representation" and other procedural matters. Tarrant sacked a court-appointed lawyer after his first court appearance on March 16, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a propaganda platform. The court said Tarrant would not be required to enter a plea during Friday's hearing. The court has now barred media from filming or photographing the accused.

Accused Christchurch mosque attacker face 50 murder charges: New Zealand police

Austrian investigators have raided the apartment of a far-right group leader over possible links to the man behind <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-man-dies-in-standoff-with-officers-police-probe-link-to-mosque-massacres-205921">deadly attacks on two mosques in New Zealand</a>, officials said Tuesday.

Martin Sellner of the Identitarian Movement Austria (IBOe) said in a video uploaded online late Monday that he had received a donation, possibly from Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant.

But he denied having any connection to the March 15 assault, which claimed 50 lives, and instead blamed Tarrant for seeking to involve him by making the donation.

"I have nothing to do with this terror attack," Sellner said in the video, adding his group's was a peaceful anti-immigration movement.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who governs Austria in a coalition with a far-right party, on Tuesday called for a "complete and unsparing" investigation of any links.

Sellner said he had had no contact with Tarrant, but had found an email with a "disproportionally large" donation with the name "Tarrant" in the email address.

Sellner said he had sent a "thank you" reply prior to the New Zealand attack as he did with other donation emails.

The far-right leader added that authorities had seized his computer and phone during Monday's raid on his apartment in Vienna.&nbsp;

The prosecutor's office in the southern city of Graz said authorities had noticed the suspicious email address while probing the donation of around 1,500 euros ($1,700), which exceeded the usual sums given to IBOe.

Officials confirmed last week that Tarrant, who travelled extensively in Europe, also visited Austria. According to media reports, he arrived in Vienna on November 26 and visited several other places within Austria, including Salzburg and Innsbruck.

The 28-year-old was arrested minutes after the attack on the mosques and has been charged with murder. The Australian white supremacist streamed his shooting rampage online.

Last March, Sellner was prevented from entering the UK, with authorities saying his presence would not have been "conducive to the public good".

Austrian investigators have raided the apartment of a far-right group leader over possible links to the man behind deadly attacks on two mosques in New Zealand, officials said Tuesday.

Austrian investigators have raided the apartment of a far-right group leader over possible links to the man behind deadly attacks on two mosques in New Zealand, officials said Tuesday. Martin Sellner of the Identitarian Movement Austria (IBOe) said in a video uploaded online late Monday that he had received a donation, possibly from Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant. But he denied having any connection to the March 15 assault, which claimed 50 lives, and instead blamed Tarrant for seeking to involve him by making the donation. "I have nothing to do with this terror attack," Sellner said in the video, adding his group's was a peaceful anti-immigration movement. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who governs Austria in a coalition with a far-right party, on Tuesday called for a "complete and unsparing" investigation of any links. Sellner said he had had no contact with Tarrant, but had found an email with a "disproportionally large" donation with the name "Tarrant" in the email address. Sellner said he had sent a "thank you" reply prior to the New Zealand attack as he did with other donation emails. The far-right leader added that authorities had seized his computer and phone during Monday's raid on his apartment in Vienna. The prosecutor's office in the southern city of Graz said authorities had noticed the suspicious email address while probing the donation of around 1,500 euros ($1,700), which exceeded the usual sums given to IBOe. Officials confirmed last week that Tarrant, who travelled extensively in Europe, also visited Austria. According to media reports, he arrived in Vienna on November 26 and visited several other places within Austria, including Salzburg and Innsbruck. The 28-year-old was arrested minutes after the attack on the mosques and has been charged with murder. The Australian white supremacist streamed his shooting rampage online. Last March, Sellner was prevented from entering the UK, with authorities saying his presence would not have been "conducive to the public good".

Austria far-right figure probed over New Zealand attacker link

Muslims returned to Christchurch's main mosque on Saturday for the first time since a white supremacist massacred worshippers there, as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-shooting-call-to-prayer-two-minute-silence-honour-christchurch-victims-204749">New Zealand sought to return to normality after the tragedy</a>.

The Al Noor mosque was taken over by police for investigations and security reasons after alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant attacked Muslims gathered there and at a smaller mosque for Friday prayers, killing 50 people.

But it was handed back to the local Muslim community on Saturday and began allowing small groups onto its grounds around midday.

"We are allowing 15 people at a time, just to get some normality," said Saiyad Hassen, a volunteer at Al Noor.

"I'm not in a place to say when it is going to (fully) reopen."

Mosque officials were not immediately available for comment.

The attacks have shocked a country of 4.5 million known for its tolerance and prompted global horror, heightened by Tarrant's cold-blooded live-streaming of the massacre.

New Zealand came to a standstill on Friday to mark one week since the massacre, with the Muslim call to prayer broadcast across the country followed by two minutes of silence in honour of those slain.

Nationwide ceremonies saw poignant scenes of Kiwis embracing Muslims, and of non-Muslim New Zealand women donning makeshift Islamic headscarves in solidarity.

A day earlier, the country outlawed the military-style rifles used in the assault with immediate effect.

Al Noor had remained closed partly so that workers could repair bullet-pocked walls and clean blood-spattered floors, and on Saturday there was a little obvious indication of what took place there.

No bullet holes could be seen and walls appeared to have been freshly painted. Inside, emotional Muslim visitors stood quietly as bright sunlight streamed through windows.

There were also other signs of Christchurch moving forward from the trauma, with children seen playing cricket at a park across from the mosque and previously scheduled sporting events expected to go ahead this weekend.

Muslims returned to Christchurch's main mosque on Saturday for the first time since a white supremacist massacred worshippers there, as New Zealand sought to return to normality after the tragedy.

Muslims returned to Christchurch's main mosque on Saturday for the first time since a white supremacist massacred worshippers there, as New Zealand sought to return to normality after the tragedy. The Al Noor mosque was taken over by police for investigations and security reasons after alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant attacked Muslims gathered there and at a smaller mosque for Friday prayers, killing 50 people. But it was handed back to the local Muslim community on Saturday and began allowing small groups onto its grounds around midday. "We are allowing 15 people at a time, just to get some normality," said Saiyad Hassen, a volunteer at Al Noor. "I'm not in a place to say when it is going to (fully) reopen." Mosque officials were not immediately available for comment. The attacks have shocked a country of 4.5 million known for its tolerance and prompted global horror, heightened by Tarrant's cold-blooded live-streaming of the massacre. New Zealand came to a standstill on Friday to mark one week since the massacre, with the Muslim call to prayer broadcast across the country followed by two minutes of silence in honour of those slain. Nationwide ceremonies saw poignant scenes of Kiwis embracing Muslims, and of non-Muslim New Zealand women donning makeshift Islamic headscarves in solidarity. A day earlier, the country outlawed the military-style rifles used in the assault with immediate effect. Al Noor had remained closed partly so that workers could repair bullet-pocked walls and clean blood-spattered floors, and on Saturday there was a little obvious indication of what took place there. No bullet holes could be seen and walls appeared to have been freshly painted. Inside, emotional Muslim visitors stood quietly as bright sunlight streamed through windows. There were also other signs of Christchurch moving forward from the trauma, with children seen playing cricket at a park across from the mosque and previously scheduled sporting events expected to go ahead this weekend.

Muslims return to Christchurch mosque as New Zealand works to move on

The bullet-riddled Al Noor mosque in Christchurch was being repaired, painted and cleaned ahead of Friday prayers, as grieving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/funerals-begin-for-new-zealand-mosque-shootings-victims-suspect-to-appear-in-court-203676">families buried more victims</a> of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christchurch-mass-shooting-new-zealand-police-charge-second-man-with-sharing-livestream-of-massacre-204521">New Zealand`s worst mass shooting</a>.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that Friday's call to prayers for Muslims will be broadcast nationally and there will be a two-minute silence.

Armed police have been guarding mosques around New Zealand after 50 people were killed last Friday by a lone gunman who attacked worshippers at two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/one-of-new-zealands-darkest-days-40-killed-over-20-injured-at-mosque-shooting-203492#over-40-killed-more-than-20-seriously-wounded-203438">mosques in Christchurch</a>.

"We will have a heightened presence tomorrow in order to provide reassurance to people attending the Friday call for prayers," police said in a statement on Thursday.

"Police have been working relentlessly, doing everything in our power to gather all appropriate evidence from what are active crime scenes so we can allow people to return to the mosques as quickly as possible."

Both mosques attacked, the Al Noor and nearby Linwood mosque, plan to be reopened. Thousands of worshippers are expected at the Al Noor mosque, where the majority of victims died.

Most victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist who was living in Dunedin, on New Zealand`s South Island, has been charged with murder following the attack.

He was remanded without a plea and is due back in court on April 5, when police said he was likely to face more charges.

The first victims were buried on Wednesday and burials continued on Thursday, with the funeral of a school boy.

Families of the victims have been frustrated by the delay as under Islam bodies are usually buried within 24 hours.

A mass burial is expected to be held on Friday. Body washing will go on through the day and night to have the dead ready for burial, said one person involved in the process.

Police have identified and release to the families the bodies of some 30 victims.

Twenty-nine people wounded in the attacks remained in hospital, eight still in intensive care.

Many have had to undergo multiple surgeries due to complicated gunshot wounds. The gunman used semi-automatic AR-15 rifles, with large magazines, and shotguns.

Ardern as vowed to change gun laws in the wake of the attack, possibly banning semi-automatic weapons. An announcement will be made before the next cabinet meeting on Monday.

The gunman broadcast his attack live on Facebook and it was quickly distributed to other platforms, prompting Ardern and others to rebuke technology companies and call for greater efforts to stop violence and extremist views being aired on social media.

The bullet-riddled Al Noor mosque in Christchurch was being repaired, painted and cleaned ahead of Friday prayers, as grieving families buried more victims of New Zealand`s worst mass shooting.

The bullet-riddled Al Noor mosque in Christchurch was being repaired, painted and cleaned ahead of Friday prayers, as grieving families buried more victims of New Zealand`s worst mass shooting. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that Friday's call to prayers for Muslims will be broadcast nationally and there will be a two-minute silence. Armed police have been guarding mosques around New Zealand after 50 people were killed last Friday by a lone gunman who attacked worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch. "We will have a heightened presence tomorrow in order to provide reassurance to people attending the Friday call for prayers," police said in a statement on Thursday. "Police have been working relentlessly, doing everything in our power to gather all appropriate evidence from what are active crime scenes so we can allow people to return to the mosques as quickly as possible." Both mosques attacked, the Al Noor and nearby Linwood mosque, plan to be reopened. Thousands of worshippers are expected at the Al Noor mosque, where the majority of victims died. Most victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist who was living in Dunedin, on New Zealand`s South Island, has been charged with murder following the attack. He was remanded without a plea and is due back in court on April 5, when police said he was likely to face more charges. The first victims were buried on Wednesday and burials continued on Thursday, with the funeral of a school boy. Families of the victims have been frustrated by the delay as under Islam bodies are usually buried within 24 hours. A mass burial is expected to be held on Friday. Body washing will go on through the day and night to have the dead ready for burial, said one person involved in the process. Police have identified and release to the families the bodies of some 30 victims. Twenty-nine people wounded in the attacks remained in hospital, eight still in intensive care. Many have had to undergo multiple surgeries due to complicated gunshot wounds. The gunman used semi-automatic AR-15 rifles, with large magazines, and shotguns. Ardern as vowed to change gun laws in the wake of the attack, possibly banning semi-automatic weapons. An announcement will be made before the next cabinet meeting on Monday. The gunman broadcast his attack live on Facebook and it was quickly distributed to other platforms, prompting Ardern and others to rebuke technology companies and call for greater efforts to stop violence and extremist views being aired on social media.

Bullet-riddled New Zealand mosque to reopen for Friday prayers

An aircraft engineer, a takeaway store owner, a student pilot; details emerging of some of the 50 people gunned down at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-indians-confirmed-dead-in-new-zealand-terror-attack-death-toll-rises-to-50-203766">two New Zealand mosques</a> paint a picture of dozens of ordinary lives suddenly and savagely ended.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with murder on Saturday. Tarrant was remanded without a plea and is due back in court on April 5 where police said he was likely to face further charges.

Friday's attack, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled as terrorism, was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand.

At Hagley College, a school across a park from the Al Noor mosque where more than 40 people were killed, a makeshift support centre was set up on Sunday

A stream of victims' friends and relatives entered, one woman carrying sandwiches and falafel.

Muzzamil Pathan arrived to offer his condolences for a friend, Imran Khan, who was killed at a second mosque in the suburb of Linwood.

Khan ran a takeaway and had recently opened a butcher shop, he said.

"He was a good person. We wish this did not happen. He came here to New Zealand 18 years ago - he was just 47. He was a self-made man," Pathan said.

National carrier Air New Zealand said Lilik Abdul Hamid, an aircraft maintenance engineer, was in killed at the Al Noor mosque.

“Lilik has been a valued part of our engineering team in Christchurch for 16 years, but he first got to know the team even earlier when he worked with our aircraft engineers in a previous role overseas," Air New Zealand Chief Executive Christopher Luxon said in a statement.

"The friendships he made at that time led him to apply for a role in Air New Zealand and make the move to Christchurch. His loss will be deeply felt by the team."

Hafiz Musa Patel, an Imman visiting from Fiji, was also killed, according to Abdul Aroon, a friend from Auckland.

“We didn’t think something like this could happen in this country,” Aroon told Reuters.

One student, who asked not to be identified, said a friend had been killed.

“He was studying to be a pilot and we saw him for morning classes. Then he went to the mosque as usual, and we aren't hearing from him," he said.

"I got a call last night from a friend, around midnight, to say he has passed away.”

The majority of victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Pakistan's high commissioner said six citizens had been killed and three were missing.

Khaled Mustafa, a recent refugee from Syria, had also been killed at the Al Noor mosque, Syrian Solidarity New Zealand spokesman Ali Akil told news website Stuff.

Mustafa and his family had "survived atrocities" in their home country and "arrived here in a safe haven only to be killed in the most atrocious way".

His son, Hamza, who is about 16, was missing, and his son Zaid, who is about 13, is in Christchurch Hospital where he underwent a six-hour operation, Akil said.

An aircraft engineer, a takeaway store owner, a student pilot; details emerging of some of the 50 people gunned down at two New Zealand mosques paint a picture of dozens of ordinary lives suddenly and savagely ended.

An aircraft engineer, a takeaway store owner, a student pilot; details emerging of some of the 50 people gunned down at two New Zealand mosques paint a picture of dozens of ordinary lives suddenly and savagely ended. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with murder on Saturday. Tarrant was remanded without a plea and is due back in court on April 5 where police said he was likely to face further charges. Friday's attack, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled as terrorism, was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand. At Hagley College, a school across a park from the Al Noor mosque where more than 40 people were killed, a makeshift support centre was set up on Sunday A stream of victims' friends and relatives entered, one woman carrying sandwiches and falafel. Muzzamil Pathan arrived to offer his condolences for a friend, Imran Khan, who was killed at a second mosque in the suburb of Linwood. Khan ran a takeaway and had recently opened a butcher shop, he said. "He was a good person. We wish this did not happen. He came here to New Zealand 18 years ago - he was just 47. He was a self-made man," Pathan said. National carrier Air New Zealand said Lilik Abdul Hamid, an aircraft maintenance engineer, was in killed at the Al Noor mosque. “Lilik has been a valued part of our engineering team in Christchurch for 16 years, but he first got to know the team even earlier when he worked with our aircraft engineers in a previous role overseas," Air New Zealand Chief Executive Christopher Luxon said in a statement. "The friendships he made at that time led him to apply for a role in Air New Zealand and make the move to Christchurch. His loss will be deeply felt by the team." Hafiz Musa Patel, an Imman visiting from Fiji, was also killed, according to Abdul Aroon, a friend from Auckland. “We didn’t think something like this could happen in this country,” Aroon told Reuters. One student, who asked not to be identified, said a friend had been killed. “He was studying to be a pilot and we saw him for morning classes. Then he went to the mosque as usual, and we aren't hearing from him," he said. "I got a call last night from a friend, around midnight, to say he has passed away.” The majority of victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia and Afghanistan. Pakistan's high commissioner said six citizens had been killed and three were missing. Khaled Mustafa, a recent refugee from Syria, had also been killed at the Al Noor mosque, Syrian Solidarity New Zealand spokesman Ali Akil told news website Stuff. Mustafa and his family had "survived atrocities" in their home country and "arrived here in a safe haven only to be killed in the most atrocious way". His son, Hamza, who is about 16, was missing, and his son Zaid, who is about 13, is in Christchurch Hospital where he underwent a six-hour operation, Akil said.

Student pilot, takeaway store owner among victims of New Zealand mosque shootings

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mass-shooting-suspect-remanded-until-april-5-203622">New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5</a>

The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vetoes-measure-to-end-his-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall-203626">Trump vetoes measure to end his emergency declaration on </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vetoes-measure-to-end-his-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall-203626">border</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vetoes-measure-to-end-his-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall-203626"> wall</a>

President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday to block a&nbsp;measure passed by Democrats and Republicans&nbsp;in Congress that would terminate his emergency declaration for a wall on the&nbsp;US border with Mexico.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-to-host-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-in-2020-203620">India to host FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020</a>

India is set to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020. The decision to award the rights to India was taken at the FIFA Council meeting in Miami, USA on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-pm-vows-gun-reforms-after-racist-mosque-massacre-203623">New Zealand PM vows gun reforms after mosque massacre</a>

New Zealand's prime minister vowed to toughen the country's gun laws after revealing Saturday that the man&nbsp;accused of murdering 49 people&nbsp;in two mosques legally purchased the arsenal of firearms used in the massacre.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-says-us-hopes-to-continue-talks-with-north-korea-203592">US Secretary of State Pompeo says </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-says-us-hopes-to-continue-talks-with-north-korea-203592">US</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-says-us-hopes-to-continue-talks-with-north-korea-203592"> hopes to continue talks with North Korea</a>

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold&nbsp;denuclearization talks&nbsp;with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5 The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws.

New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5 The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws. Trump vetoes measure to end his emergency declaration on border wall President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday to block a measure passed by Democrats and Republicans in Congress that would terminate his emergency declaration for a wall on the US border with Mexico. India to host FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020 India is set to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020. The decision to award the rights to India was taken at the FIFA Council meeting in Miami, USA on Friday. New Zealand PM vows gun reforms after mosque massacre New Zealand's prime minister vowed to toughen the country's gun laws after revealing Saturday that the man accused of murdering 49 people in two mosques legally purchased the arsenal of firearms used in the massacre. US Secretary of State Pompeo says US hopes to continue talks with North Korea The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The main suspect in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gunman-was-very-calm-during-the-rampage-survivors-tell-of-new-zealand-mosque-shootings-203612">mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques</a> was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws.

Brenton Harrison Tarrant, a 28-year old Australian citizen, appeared in a Christchurch District Court and was remanded without a plea until his next scheduled appearance in the South Island city's High Court on April 5.

Handcuffed and wearing a white prison suit, Tarrant did not speak. His court-appointed lawyer made no application for bail or name suppression.

He was likely to face further charges, police said.

The attack, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled as terrorism, was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand and the country raised its security threat level to the highest.

Footage of the attack on one of the mosques was broadcast live on Facebook, and a "manifesto" was also posted online that denounced immigrants as "invaders".

The video footage showed a man driving to the mosque, entering it and shooting randomly at people inside. Worshippers, possibly dead or wounded, lay on the floor, the video showed. Reuters was unable to confirm the footage's authenticity and police urged people not to view or share it.

Police said two other people were in custody.

Armed police were deployed at several locations in all cities, unusual in a country where levels of gun violence are low.

Ardern said the main suspect was a licensed gun owner who used five weapons during his rampage, including two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns.

"I can tell you one thing right now, our gun laws will change," Ardern told reporters, saying a ban on semi-automatic weapons would be considered.

None of those arrested had a criminal history or was on any watchlist in New Zealand or Australia.

Sorrow sympathy

There was a heavy police presence at the hospital where families of the more than 40 wounded had gathered. Funerals were planned on Saturday for some of the victims, several of whom were born overseas.

Dozens of people laid flowers at cordons near both mosques in Christchurch, which is still rebuilding after a devastating earthquake in 2011 that killed almost 200 people.

Leaders around the world expressed sorrow and disgust at the attacks, with some deploring the demonisation of Muslims.&nbsp;

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who condemned the attack as a "horrible massacre", was praised by the accused gunman in a manifesto posted online as "a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose".

Asked by a reporter in Washington if he thought white nationalism is a rising threat around the world, Trump said, "I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems. I guess if you look at what happened in New Zealand perhaps that’s a case, I don’t know enough about it yet."

Ardern, who flew to Christchurch on Saturday, said she had spoken to Trump, who had asked how he could help.

"My message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities," she said she told him.

Political and Islamic leaders across Asia and the Middle East voiced concern over the targeting of Muslims.

"I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11," Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan posted on social media. "1.3 billion Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror."

Shooting everyone in the mosque

One man who said he was at the Al Noor mosque told media the gunman burst into the mosque as worshippers were kneeling for prayers.

"He had a big gun...He came and started shooting everyone in the mosque, everywhere," said the man, Ahmad Al-Mahmoud. He said he and others escaped by breaking through a glass door.

Facebook said it had deleted the gunman's accounts "shortly after the livestream commenced" after being alerted by police. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube all said they had taken steps to remove copies of the videos.&nbsp;

Ardern said she had asked authorities to look into whether there was any activity on social media or elsewhere ahead of the attack that should have alerted them.

Forty-one people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven at a mosque in the Linwood neighbourhood and one died in hospital, police said.

The visiting Bangladesh cricket team was arriving for prayers at one of the mosques when the shooting started but all members were safe, a team coach told Reuters.&nbsp;

Muslims account for just over 1 per cent of New Zealand's population, a 2013 census showed, most of whom were born overseas.

A website set up for victims had raised more than NZ$1 million ($684,000) in less than a day, and social media was flooded with messages of shock, sympathy and solidarity.

One image shared widely was of a cartoon kiwi, the country's national bird, weeping. Another showed a pair of figures, one in a headscarf, embracing. "This is your home and you should have been safe here" the caption read.

The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws.

The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, a 28-year old Australian citizen, appeared in a Christchurch District Court and was remanded without a plea until his next scheduled appearance in the South Island city's High Court on April 5. Handcuffed and wearing a white prison suit, Tarrant did not speak. His court-appointed lawyer made no application for bail or name suppression. He was likely to face further charges, police said. The attack, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled as terrorism, was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand and the country raised its security threat level to the highest. Footage of the attack on one of the mosques was broadcast live on Facebook, and a "manifesto" was also posted online that denounced immigrants as "invaders". The video footage showed a man driving to the mosque, entering it and shooting randomly at people inside. Worshippers, possibly dead or wounded, lay on the floor, the video showed. Reuters was unable to confirm the footage's authenticity and police urged people not to view or share it. Police said two other people were in custody. Armed police were deployed at several locations in all cities, unusual in a country where levels of gun violence are low. Ardern said the main suspect was a licensed gun owner who used five weapons during his rampage, including two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns. "I can tell you one thing right now, our gun laws will change," Ardern told reporters, saying a ban on semi-automatic weapons would be considered. None of those arrested had a criminal history or was on any watchlist in New Zealand or Australia. Sorrow sympathy There was a heavy police presence at the hospital where families of the more than 40 wounded had gathered. Funerals were planned on Saturday for some of the victims, several of whom were born overseas. Dozens of people laid flowers at cordons near both mosques in Christchurch, which is still rebuilding after a devastating earthquake in 2011 that killed almost 200 people. Leaders around the world expressed sorrow and disgust at the attacks, with some deploring the demonisation of Muslims. US President Donald Trump, who condemned the attack as a "horrible massacre", was praised by the accused gunman in a manifesto posted online as "a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose". Asked by a reporter in Washington if he thought white nationalism is a rising threat around the world, Trump said, "I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems. I guess if you look at what happened in New Zealand perhaps that’s a case, I don’t know enough about it yet." Ardern, who flew to Christchurch on Saturday, said she had spoken to Trump, who had asked how he could help. "My message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities," she said she told him. Political and Islamic leaders across Asia and the Middle East voiced concern over the targeting of Muslims. "I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11," Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan posted on social media. "1.3 billion Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror." Shooting everyone in the mosque One man who said he was at the Al Noor mosque told media the gunman burst into the mosque as worshippers were kneeling for prayers. "He had a big gun...He came and started shooting everyone in the mosque, everywhere," said the man, Ahmad Al-Mahmoud. He said he and others escaped by breaking through a glass door. Facebook said it had deleted the gunman's accounts "shortly after the livestream commenced" after being alerted by police. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube all said they had taken steps to remove copies of the videos. Ardern said she had asked authorities to look into whether there was any activity on social media or elsewhere ahead of the attack that should have alerted them. Forty-one people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven at a mosque in the Linwood neighbourhood and one died in hospital, police said. The visiting Bangladesh cricket team was arriving for prayers at one of the mosques when the shooting started but all members were safe, a team coach told Reuters. Muslims account for just over 1 per cent of New Zealand's population, a 2013 census showed, most of whom were born overseas. A website set up for victims had raised more than NZ$1 million ($684,000) in less than a day, and social media was flooded with messages of shock, sympathy and solidarity. One image shared widely was of a cartoon kiwi, the country's national bird, weeping. Another showed a pair of figures, one in a headscarf, embracing. "This is your home and you should have been safe here" the caption read.

New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5

New Zealand police said a gunman targeted a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/christchurch-mosque-attack-bangladesh-cricket-team-was-about-to-go-inside-safe-but-mentally-shocked-203418">mosque in Christchurch</a> as Friday prayers were underway even as they found IEDs inside the area.

The police informed that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-attack-shootings-took-place-at-two-locations-says-police-203422">four people have been </a>taken into custody. Authorities fear multiple deaths in the attack. The police still haven't confirmed the number of people killed in the shooting although it is feared that several have lost their lives inside the mosque.

"Four are in custody. Three are men and one is a woman," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters in Wellington.

"There were a few reports of IEDs strapped to vehicles which we were able to secure," he said, referring to improvised explosive devices.&nbsp;

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was an "extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence" and that those "directly affected by this shooting may be migrants to New Zealand, they may even be refugees".

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Police can now confirm the lock down of schools throughout Christchurch has been lifted. We would like to reassure members of the public that there is a large Police presence in the city and the safety of the community is our priority.
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"They have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home. They are us. The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not."

Witnesses told the media that a man dressed in a military-style, camouflage outfit, and carrying an automatic rifle started shooting people in the Al Noor mosque.

"They should have been in a safe environment," PM Jacinda Ardern said as she sought to console a shocked nation.

Meanwhile, New Zealand cricket board in a tweet said it had cancelled the third Test with Bangladesh to be played at Christchurch's Hagley Oval due to the shooting incident in the city.

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Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by the shocking situation in Christchurch. A joint decision between NZC and the <a href="https://twitter.com/BCBtigers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCBtigers</a> has been made to cancel the Hagley Oval Test. Again both teams and support staff groups are safe.
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"We are shocked and appalled, as I'm sure all New Zealanders are," NZ Cricket chief executive David White said.

The Bangladesh cricket team was nearly involved in the incident after they took a bus to the mosque at the city's Masjid al Noor for Friday prayers as a shooting unfolded and were warned not to go inside.

"They are safe. But they are mentally shocked. We have asked the team to stay confined in the hotel," Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus said.

New Zealand police said a gunman targeted a mosque in Christchurch as Friday prayers were underway even as they found IEDs inside the area. The police informed that four people have been taken into custody.

New Zealand police said a gunman targeted a mosque in Christchurch as Friday prayers were underway even as they found IEDs inside the area. The police informed that four people have been taken into custody. Authorities fear multiple deaths in the attack. The police still haven't confirmed the number of people killed in the shooting although it is feared that several have lost their lives inside the mosque. "Four are in custody. Three are men and one is a woman," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters in Wellington. "There were a few reports of IEDs strapped to vehicles which we were able to secure," he said, referring to improvised explosive devices. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was an "extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence" and that those "directly affected by this shooting may be migrants to New Zealand, they may even be refugees". Police can now confirm the lock down of schools throughout Christchurch has been lifted. We would like to reassure members of the public that there is a large Police presence in the city and the safety of the community is our priority. — New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) March 15, 2019 × "They have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home. They are us. The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not." Witnesses told the media that a man dressed in a military-style, camouflage outfit, and carrying an automatic rifle started shooting people in the Al Noor mosque. "They should have been in a safe environment," PM Jacinda Ardern said as she sought to console a shocked nation. Meanwhile, New Zealand cricket board in a tweet said it had cancelled the third Test with Bangladesh to be played at Christchurch's Hagley Oval due to the shooting incident in the city. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by the shocking situation in Christchurch. A joint decision between NZC and the @BCBtigers has been made to cancel the Hagley Oval Test. Again both teams and support staff groups are safe. — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 15, 2019 × "We are shocked and appalled, as I'm sure all New Zealanders are," NZ Cricket chief executive David White said. The Bangladesh cricket team was nearly involved in the incident after they took a bus to the mosque at the city's Masjid al Noor for Friday prayers as a shooting unfolded and were warned not to go inside. "They are safe. But they are mentally shocked. We have asked the team to stay confined in the hotel," Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus said.

New Zealand mosque shooting: 4 people in custody, police recover IEDs strapped to vehicles

Shooting at Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand ; witness says "many dead, injured"

New Zealand police were hunting "an active shooter" in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/christchurch-mosque-attack-bangladesh-cricket-team-was-about-to-go-inside-safe-but-mentally-shocked-203418">centre of Christchurch city on Friday </a>after a gunman opened fire at a mosque inflicting several casualties.

"A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.

"Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high."

The Bangladesh cricket team was in the vicinity of the shooting but all members were safe, a team coach told media.

Media reported that a gunman opened fire inside mosque in Christchurch's Hagley Park. There were reports of armed police at a second mosque in the suburb of Linwood.

People in centre of the city should stay indoors, police said. All Christchurch schools and council buildings have been placed into lockdown.

Police did not immediately comment on whether the incident took place in the mosque or nearby. There is no official confirmation on casualties.

Media said shots had been fired near a mosque and a witness told broadcaster One News that he had seen three people lying on the ground, bleeding outside the building.

Radio New Zealand quoted a witness inside the mosque saying he heard shots fired and at least four people were lying on the ground and "there was blood everywhere".

"Horrified to hear of Christchurch mosque shootings. There is never a justification for that sort of hatred," said Amy Adams, a member of parliament from Christchurch.

The Bangladesh cricket team is in Christchurch to play New Zealand in a third cricket test starting on Saturday.

Mario Villavarayen, strength and conditioning coach of the Bangladesh cricket team said the team was close to where the shooting occurred, but was safe.

He said the players were shaken up but fine.

New Zealand police were hunting "an active shooter" in the centre of Christchurch city on Friday after a gunman opened fire at a mosque inflicting several casualties.

New Zealand police were hunting "an active shooter" in the centre of Christchurch city on Friday after a gunman opened fire at a mosque inflicting several casualties. "A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said. "Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high." The Bangladesh cricket team was in the vicinity of the shooting but all members were safe, a team coach told media. Media reported that a gunman opened fire inside mosque in Christchurch's Hagley Park. There were reports of armed police at a second mosque in the suburb of Linwood. People in centre of the city should stay indoors, police said. All Christchurch schools and council buildings have been placed into lockdown. Police did not immediately comment on whether the incident took place in the mosque or nearby. There is no official confirmation on casualties. Media said shots had been fired near a mosque and a witness told broadcaster One News that he had seen three people lying on the ground, bleeding outside the building. Radio New Zealand quoted a witness inside the mosque saying he heard shots fired and at least four people were lying on the ground and "there was blood everywhere". "Horrified to hear of Christchurch mosque shootings. There is never a justification for that sort of hatred," said Amy Adams, a member of parliament from Christchurch. The Bangladesh cricket team is in Christchurch to play New Zealand in a third cricket test starting on Saturday. Mario Villavarayen, strength and conditioning coach of the Bangladesh cricket team said the team was close to where the shooting occurred, but was safe. He said the players were shaken up but fine.

New Zealand police hunt 'active shooter' after gunman opens fire at mosque

Haryana mosque under NIA scrutiny

Police raid Muslim prayer hall in France

The holy month of Ramadan brought good tidings for hundreds of Muslim workers in the UAE.

Saji Cheriyan, a businessman from Kerala, build a mosque for Muslim worshippers in the UAE at the cost of whopping Rs 2.4 crores (Dh 1.3 million).

Cheriyan, who hails from a small town in Kerala called Kayamkulam, is a practising Christian who moved to the Arab country over a decade ago in the year 2003.&nbsp;

He once noticed that Muslim workers, who lived in a worker accommodation, travelled for long to visit a mosque and offer prayers, Cheriyan was resolved to gift them a mosque near to their area of living, a dream which came true recently. As many as 250 worshippers can easily be accommodated in the building.&nbsp;

Mariam, Umm Eisa mosque stands at East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area, UAE.

Cheriyan "opted for the name Mariam, Umm Eisa (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) for the mosque after an Abu Dhabi mosque was renamed so in 2017," a Facebook post described.

Mariam, Umm Eisa mosque stands at East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area, UAE

The holy month of Ramadan brought good tidings for hundreds of Muslim workers in the UAE. Saji Cheriyan, a businessman from Kerala, build a mosque for Muslim worshippers in the UAE at the cost of whopping Rs 2.4 crores (Dh 1.3 million). Cheriyan, who hails from a small town in Kerala called Kayamkulam, is a practising Christian who moved to the Arab country over a decade ago in the year 2003. He once noticed that Muslim workers, who lived in a worker accommodation, travelled for long to visit a mosque and offer prayers, Cheriyan was resolved to gift them a mosque near to their area of living, a dream which came true recently. As many as 250 worshippers can easily be accommodated in the building. Mariam, Umm Eisa mosque stands at East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area, UAE. Cheriyan "opted for the name Mariam, Umm Eisa (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) for the mosque after an Abu Dhabi mosque was renamed so in 2017," a Facebook post described.

For Ramadan, Christian expat gifts mosque worth Rs 2.4 crore to Muslim workers in UAE

Bangladesh-born Taslima Nasreen, 55, who fled her country after a fundamentalist blacklash over her book Lajja in the 90s, backed Haryana chief minister's move to not to allow namaz in public places.&nbsp;

Reacting to the increased number of incidents of disrupting namaz in different areas of Gurugram, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/namaz-should-be-performed-in-mosques-rather-than-public-spaces-haryana-cm-manohar-lal-khattar--134938">Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar </a>on Saturday said namaz should only be offered in mosques/eidgahs.

Taslima who now lives in Sweden and had spent considerable time in West Bengal spoke out against Nawaz in public places.

Speaking out against the practice of offering Namaz at public places, Taslima Nasreen tweeted: "Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. &nbsp; Makes sense. &nbsp;Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good."

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Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. Makes sense. Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good. <a href="https://t.co/cs76oKVFf6">pic.twitter.com/cs76oKVFf6</a>
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/taslimanasreen/status/993160799630843911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Taslima who now lives in Sweden and had spent considerable time in West Bengal spoke out against Nawaz in public places.

Bangladesh-born Taslima Nasreen, 55, who fled her country after a fundamentalist blacklash over her book Lajja in the 90s, backed Haryana chief minister's move to not to allow namaz in public places. Reacting to the increased number of incidents of disrupting namaz in different areas of Gurugram, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said namaz should only be offered in mosques/eidgahs. Taslima who now lives in Sweden and had spent considerable time in West Bengal spoke out against Nawaz in public places. Speaking out against the practice of offering Namaz at public places, Taslima Nasreen tweeted: "Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. Makes sense. Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good." Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. Makes sense. Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good. pic.twitter.com/cs76oKVFf6 — taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) May 6, 2018 ×

Namaz should be offered only at mosque and eidgah: Taslima Nasreen

An explosion at a mosque in the eastern Afghan province of Khost on Sunday killed at least 13&nbsp;people and wounded 31, news agency Reuters reported quoting a local police official.

The death toll may rise, the reported added.&nbsp;

Basir Bina, a spokesman for the provincial police, said the explosion took place when people gathered after afternoon prayers in the mosque, which was also being used as a voter registration centre for parliamentary elections due in October.

He said the blast appeared to have been caused by explosives left in the mosque rather than by a suicide bomber.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which adds to a series of attacks on preparations for elections seen as a key test of government credibility.

Last month, around 60 people were killed in a suicide attack on a voter centre in the capital Kabul, which was claimed by Islamic State while the Taliban has also warned people not to take part in the elections.

Sunday's blast came as fighting has spread across Afghanistan, with government officials saying that a district in the northern province of Badakhshan which was seized by Taliban fighters last week had been retaken.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the reports that Kohistan district had been retaken, saying in a statement that security forces had been driven back.

In a separate incident in the northern province of Faryab, seven people were killed when the car they were travelling in hit a roadside bomb early on Sunday morning, Mohammad Karim Yuresh, spokesman for Faryab police, said.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

According to sources, the death toll may rise.

An explosion at a mosque in the eastern Afghan province of Khost on Sunday killed at least 13 people and wounded 31, news agency Reuters reported quoting a local police official. The death toll may rise, the reported added. Basir Bina, a spokesman for the provincial police, said the explosion took place when people gathered after afternoon prayers in the mosque, which was also being used as a voter registration centre for parliamentary elections due in October. He said the blast appeared to have been caused by explosives left in the mosque rather than by a suicide bomber. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which adds to a series of attacks on preparations for elections seen as a key test of government credibility. Last month, around 60 people were killed in a suicide attack on a voter centre in the capital Kabul, which was claimed by Islamic State while the Taliban has also warned people not to take part in the elections. Sunday's blast came as fighting has spread across Afghanistan, with government officials saying that a district in the northern province of Badakhshan which was seized by Taliban fighters last week had been retaken. However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the reports that Kohistan district had been retaken, saying in a statement that security forces had been driven back. In a separate incident in the northern province of Faryab, seven people were killed when the car they were travelling in hit a roadside bomb early on Sunday morning, Mohammad Karim Yuresh, spokesman for Faryab police, said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Blast at mosque in eastern Afghanistan kills 13: Official

Explosions in and around a mosque in northeast Nigeria killed at least 20 people on Tuesday, police said.

The blasts in the town of Mubi bore the hallmarks of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency in Africa's most populous country since 2009 and often deploys suicide bombers in crowded places.

Adamawa State police spokesman Othman Abubakar says an explosion occurred during prayers Tuesday afternoon and many people died as they fled and were caught by a second blast.

The jihadist group on Thursday carried out an attack in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno state, that killed four people.

More than 30,000 people have been killed in the insurgency, which has also forced some two million to flee their homes.

Abdullahi Yerima, police commissioner in Adamawa state, said a suicide bomber struck at the mosque at around 01:00 p.m. (1200 GMT) and a second bomber detonated a device some 200 metres (220 yards) away as worshippers fled.

"About 20 people have died", he said, adding that more than a dozen were hurt.

&nbsp;

The blasts in the town of Mubi bore the hallmarks of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency in Africa's most populous country since 2009 and often deploys suicide bombers in crowded places

Explosions in and around a mosque in northeast Nigeria killed at least 20 people on Tuesday, police said. The blasts in the town of Mubi bore the hallmarks of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency in Africa's most populous country since 2009 and often deploys suicide bombers in crowded places. Adamawa State police spokesman Othman Abubakar says an explosion occurred during prayers Tuesday afternoon and many people died as they fled and were caught by a second blast. The jihadist group on Thursday carried out an attack in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno state, that killed four people. More than 30,000 people have been killed in the insurgency, which has also forced some two million to flee their homes. Abdullahi Yerima, police commissioner in Adamawa state, said a suicide bomber struck at the mosque at around 01:00 p.m. (1200 GMT) and a second bomber detonated a device some 200 metres (220 yards) away as worshippers fled. "About 20 people have died", he said, adding that more than a dozen were hurt.

Blasts at mosque kill at least 20 in northeast Nigeria: Police

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