14 people killed and 200 injured at annual kite flying festival [View All]

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Protests after 14 die in Pakistan kite festival
(AFP)

26 February 2007


LAHORE, Pakistan - Islamic groups staged protests on Monday after 14 people, including a child, were killed and 200 injured during an annual kite flying festival in central Pakistan.

The seven-year-old boy died when an illegal kite string coated in broken glass slashed his throat during the Basant festival near Lahore, local police officer Ahmed Hasan said.

Stray bullets fired in the air killed four people, six kite flyers fell to their deaths from rooftops and a young man died in a brawl, Hasan added.

Another two men were electrocuted after the metal rods they were using to catch stray kites caught on power lines, officials in Lahore added.