Suspect in Bhutto case identifies bomber | World News - Hindustan Times
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Suspect in Bhutto case identifies bomber

None | ByXinhua, Islamabad
Jan 29, 2008 03:42 PM IST

The 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah confesses that he was a member of the backup group of suicide bombers who killed Bhutto.

A teenage boy suspected to be a member of a suicide squad picked to murder former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto has identified the bomber who blew himself up near her car, TV channels reported on Tuesday.

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The interior ministry confirmed that 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah had been arrested in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan last week. He confessed that he was a member of the backup group of suicide bombers who killed Bhutto.

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Aitzaz Shah was later shifted to Islamabad for questioning and a court has given his 10-day custody to the police for interrogation. Another suspect, Sher Zaman, was also arrested on a tip from Aitzaz Shah, according to officials.

Aitzaz Shah has identified the bomber as Bilal, who belongs to South Waziristan tribal region, TV channels said.

Media reports said that investigators showed the picture of the bomber to Aitzaz Shah, who recognised him.

TV channels reported that a team of investigators had left for South Waziristan to meet members of Bilal's family to get more information about him.

Bilal was a member of Baitullah Mehsood group, blamed by the authorities for organising suicide bombings against security forces across the country.

The interior ministry had released a video tape a day after the assassination of Bhutto in which two persons identified Bilal as among the bombers who killed the former prime minister.

The police have also arrested six people in different parts of Rawalpindi following information provided by Aitzaz Shah.

Benazir Bhutto was killed in firing and suicide bombing attacks in the garrison city of Rawalpindi Dec 27 after she addressed an election rally.

The interior ministry blamed Baitullah Mehsood for the killing of Bhutto. A spokesman for Mehsood denied the accusation.

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