ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Authorities in Pakistan said Saturday they had arrested a 15-year-old boy allegedly involved in the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
North West Frontier Province security officials allege the unidentified teenager confessed he was part of a militant squad deployed to Rawalpindi the same day the former prime minister was killed following a speech in the Pakistani city, the Alalam news network reported Saturday.
The boy was arrested Friday after allegedly planning to set off a bomb during a Muslim ritual in the area, authorities said.
The suspect allegedly told investigators the individual who attacked Bhutto Dec. 27 had been part of his squad and that they had been sent by militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, a South Waziristan militant with ties to al-Qaida and the Taliban.
Bhutto was killed after being shot by an armed individual, who then detonated an explosive vest near the vehicle carrying the outspoken opposition leader.
Alalam said that since Bhutto's death, Pakistan has devolved into chaos and parliamentary elections have been delayed for weeks.
