Deaths in Pakistan city blast

Deaths in Pakistan city blast

Scores of people were injured in the blast, which took place in the city of Karachi [EPA] At least 25 people have been killed after a bomb blast struck a procession of Shia Muslims in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, according to police sources. The explosion struck on Monday as Shia worshippers marked Ashoura, the holiest event on the Shia Muslim calendar. Police sources told Al Jazeera that at least 50 people were injured in the blast, with many of those in a critical condition. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. "We are trying to ascertain whether it was a time bomb or a suicide attack, but it is a terrorist attack," Abdul Wahid Khan, a senior police official, was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying. The Pakistan Rangers, a paramilitary force, has taken over responsibility for restive areas of Karachi, officials said. Television footage showed crowds around the blast area, smoke rising over the scene and ambulances going back and forth. Some people in the crowd, apparently angered at the attack, fired shots into the air, witnesses said. Building ablaze Local television stations reported that more than a dozen vehicles and a four-storey building were also set ablaze by people reacting to the attack. Fazal Qureshi, chief editor of the Pakistan Press International news agency, told Al Jazeera: "These processions cover long distances, they were marching through the central road when suddenly the bomber blew himself up. "It is impossible to stop someone who is prepared to die. There is an atmosphere of fear throughout the city." Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad, said: "The Shia community would certainly have been the specific target of this attack, but there have been no claims of responsibility so far." "The Shia are in the minority but make up a significant number of Pakistanis. "They are woven into the fabric of Pakistan. However, they are under attack for their beliefs." Rehman Malik, the interior minister, has called for people to show restraint and asked that Shia processions over the next two days be cancelled following the attack. Talat Hussain, the director of news at the local AAJ TV, told Al Jazeera: "Any number of groups come to mind who may have carried out the attack ... The game clearly is to disrupt Pakistan." Concerning the violent reaction to the strike, Hussain said: "People have been saying that the government has been apathetic to the listening to the warnings of potential attacks and people's fears." Pakistan had tightened security to protect mass processions ahead of Ashoura, deploying tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies