Militants blamed as 19 people killed in Uzbek attacks

ISLAMIC extremists were blamed yesterday for suicide bombings, attacks on police and an explosion at an alleged terrorist bomb-making factory in Uzbekistan that killed 19 people including the bombers and injured 26.

The suicide bombings by two women were the first ever reported in the former Soviet central Asian republic that is now a staunch ally of the US led anti-terror campaign in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Prosecutor-General Rashid Kadyrov said the events began on Sunday night with an explosion that killed 10 people at a house being used by extremists in the central province of Bukhara.

There were also two attacks overnight that killed three policemen, and two suicide bombings near the Chorsu bazaar in the capital Tashkent’s Old City, which killed three policemen and a young child, he said.

Mr Kadyrov said the attacks were carried out by Islamic extremists, singling out the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir group and followers of the strict Wahhabi sect of Islam.

“A preliminary investigation shows all the events are interconnected and aimed at destabilization of the country,” Mr Kadyrov said.

President Islam Karimov said the attacks had been planned at least six months in advance, and had been originally set to take place before the Central Asian new year holiday Navruz, which falls on March 21.

“As the president I promise all measures will be taken to stop such terrorist acts,” Mr Karimov said yesterday.

MrKadyrov said one person had been arrested.

The Tashkent market blasts were set off by female suicide bombers, outside a children’s store and at a bus stop, Mr Kadyrov said.