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Nepalese police on alert after deadly mosque bombing

Muslim leaders in eastern Nepal called for calm and authorities stepped up security yesterday after a bomb attack on a mosque killed two people and seriously wounded two others.

The bombing on Saturday was the first targeting a mosque in predominantly Hindu Nepal, where Muslims are a minority. No serious conflicts have occurred in the past between followers of the two religions.

"We are trying to ensure that this will not lead to bigger conflict or communal violence," said Jafar Ahmad Jamali of the Muslim Ethihad Organization.

A curfew imposed after the attack was lifted yesterday morning, but security had been stepped up in the region, said Madhav Raj Regmi, the chief government administrator. Police patrols have been increased, he said, and officers were being posted at all major intersections in the city.

Jamali said plans were under way for a public funeral to be held later yesterday.

"We have urged everyone to be on alert so there is no outbreak of communal violence," he said.

"Muslim people started to come into the street and attacked vehicles so we have imposed a curfew to avoid communal violence," a senior police officer said.

Large numbers of extra police have been mobilized to enforce the curfew, senior official Madhav Prasad Regmi said.

"Nobody has yet claimed responsibility and police are investigating the incident," Regmi said.

A reporter with the Kantipur media group said worshippers were praying inside the mosque when the bombs went off.
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