His accomplices brought carnage to a Sufi shrine, but the 14-year-old suicide bomber who was captured after his explosives failed to detonate was unrepentant. ``Let me go, I want to be a martyr,' he said as he was being led away, according to police officer Khalid Mahmood. ``I want to send all you policemen to hell!'
The boy, identified as Fida Hussain, was arrested at the shrine shortly after Sunday's twin suicide blasts, which killed 42 people and wounded 100 others. The complex close to Dera Ghazi Khan was crowded with thousands of people attending an annual festival. Another suspect was also detained at the shrine, but police gave no details about him.
Information from the pair detained at the shrine could provide clues about the network behind the blasts. Mahmood said both detained suspects were apparently from North Waziristan, one of seven tribally administered areas close to Afghanistan. All those areas are militant hotspots, but North Waziristan is considered especially so, being under virtual militant control and being home to extremists from around Pakistan and the world.
Mahmood said Hussain and the other suspect were at the shrine for around one hour before striking. When Hussain's vest failed to detonate, he threw a grenade but it exploded close to him, blowing off his hand. Police then fired at him, hitting him in his other arm. He was being treated for his injuries Monday, Mahmood said.
The boy's comments to the policemen offer a glimpse into the level of his indoctrination. ``You all are accomplices of the enemies of Islam who are bent upon eliminating Islam and Muslims,' Hussain allegedly said, according to Mahmood. ``If I get a chance, I will again strike as a suicide bomber.'