WORLD : 10 Slain in Bombay ‘Verses’ Protest
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NEW DELHI — In the bloodiest outbreak of violence yet over “The Satanic Verses,” Bombay police opened fire today on a crowd of Muslims protesting Salman Rushdie’s book and at least 10 people were killed and 25 injured, authorities said.
Police said about 5,000 Muslims started the protest in the center of the city after weekly prayers. Protesters set fire to several state-run buses and other vehicles and attacked policemen on duty, an officer said.
Friday is Islam’s weekly holy day, and anti-Rushdie protests were reported elsewhere in India. But there were no other reports of violence.
The Bombay demonstrators, almost all Muslims, ignored a police ban on the assembly of more than five people in public places. The ban was imposed after some Muslims announced plans to protest Rushdie’s book, which some say insults Islam.
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