Pakistani city mourns 42 Shiite Muslims who were ambushed and killed in a gun attack

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Protesters in Pakistan's restive northwest chanted anti-government slogans and tensions flared Friday after funeral prayers were held for 42 Shiite Muslims who were ambushed and killed by gunmen a day earlier in one of the region's deadliest such assaults in recent years.

The victims were traveling in a convoy of several vehicles from the northwestern city of Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, when the attack took place Thursday. Those killed included six women and 20 others were injured.

Survivors said the assailants emerged from a vehicle and sprayed the buses and cars with bullets. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack and police have not identified a motive.

Thursday’s attack took place in Kurram, an area where Shiite Muslims dominate. Sectarian clashes between the group and Pakistan’s majority Sunni Muslims have killed dozens of people in recent months.

Tribal elder Jalal Bangash said the bodies began arriving in the city Thursday evening. The Shiite community group Anjuman Hussainia Parachinar announced three days of mourning.

Coffins were draped in white cloth that bore red calligraphy. It read “Labbaik ya Hussein,” a Shiite expression in remembrance of the 7th-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, that gave birth to their faith.

Locals carried the coffins aloft through Parachinar as people thronged the streets. Markets, shops, roads and schools were closed. Locals and relatives of the victims staged a sit-in, demanding action against the perpetrators.

Ali Ghulam lost his nephew in the attack.

“He was a very innocent and noble man, only 40, and left behind small kids,” said Ghulam. “He was working to feed his children, he never fought with anyone. Now we are worried about his family and what we will do for them.”

Protests kicked off in parts of the city, with people chanting anti-government slogans. Some people set alight check posts and the gate at the entrance of the city. Elders have called for calm.

A senior police officer said clashes flared after the Parachinar funerals between rival tribes in Kurram, 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Peshawar.

Sunni and Shiite tribes targeted each other’s positions in several areas of the district, the officer said. “There are some casualties, but we do not have a confirmed number for the dead and injured,” the officer added. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Shiite Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million population of Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of sectarian animosity between the communities.

Although the two groups generally live together peacefully, tensions have existed for decades in some areas, especially in parts of Kurram.

Dozens of people from both sides have been killed since July, when a land dispute erupted in Kurram that later turned into general sectarian violence.

People offer prayer for local journalist Janan Hussain, who was killed in a gunmen firing incident, at his home, in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

Relatives transport the body of a victim of a gunmen firing incident, after collecting it from a hospital, in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

Mourners bury a body of a person killed when gunmen fired on vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims Thursday, after his funeral prayer in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

Relatives gather to collect the body of a person who was killed when gunmen fired on vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims Thursday, at a hospital in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

A mourner stands beside the bodies of the victims. who were killed in a gunmen firing incident, before their funeral prayer, in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

Local residents walk in a market, which closed due to strike called by traders as a protest against a gunmen firing incident, in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

A mourner stands beside the bodies of the victims. who were killed in a gunmen firing incident, before their funeral prayer, in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

Relatives load the body of a victim, who was killed in a gunmen firing incident, into a vehicle at a hospital, in Parachinar, main town of Kurram district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussain Ali)

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin has 868 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 27 to set a new record.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Ovechkin scored twice in a 6-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 18, getting goals 867 and 868 in his first game in Salt Lake City before leaving in the third period.

Based on the timeframe laid out by the team, with no surgery required for the injury, Ovechkin figures to return sometime around the New Year. Washington's Dec. 28 game at Toronto is a possibility.

Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,690.

He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135).

Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr.

Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).

Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists and is now at 707. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.

Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second all time behind Gretzky (894).

Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons. Ovechkin has played in 1,444 total games so far.

Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin waits for a face off in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Back on the ice after a 6-month suspension from the league, Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) looks for a pass as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, center, defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) stands on the ice before an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin shoots during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights for a hat trick during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)